PSG - Inter Miami: European Champions Sweep Aside Messi's Side to Reach Club World Cup Quarter-Final

PSG defeated Inter Miami 4-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 on June 29, 2025. Joao Neves scored twice, with Tomas Aviles (own goal) ...

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• PSG defeated Inter Miami 4-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 on June 29, 2025.
• Joao Neves scored twice, with Tomas Aviles (own goal) and Achraf Hakimi also contributing.
• Lionel Messi's Inter Miami was eliminated, unable to match PSG's dominance.
• PSG advances to face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

Match Summary

On June 29, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, PSG showcased their superiority, sweeping aside Inter Miami with a 4-0 victory. The match saw early goals from Joao Neves, who headed in a free-kick and later finished a team move, while an own goal by Tomas Aviles and a late strike by Achraf Hakimi sealed the win. Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, struggled to create chances and was eliminated from the tournament.

Reactions and Context

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano praised his team's effort, noting the class difference but highlighting their historic run to the knockout stage as a significant achievement for MLS. PSG's performance positions them as strong contenders, with their next match against Bayern Munich.

Significance

This match underscored PSG's status as European champions and Inter Miami's growing presence in global soccer, despite the defeat. The expanded 2025 Club World Cup continues to highlight top club competitions.

In a highly anticipated clash at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) delivered a masterclass performance, defeating Inter Miami 4-0 in the Round of 16. The match, held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 29, 2025, saw PSG dominate from start to finish, with Joao Neves scoring twice, Tomas Aviles (own goal), and Achraf Hakimi adding to the tally. This victory not only eliminated Lionel Messi's Inter Miami but also set up a quarter-final clash for PSG against Bayern Munich, who had previously defeated Flamengo 4-2.

Match Details and Key Moments

The PSG - Inter Miami encounter began with PSG asserting dominance early on. In the 6th minute, Joao Neves headed in a free-kick delivered by Vitinha, giving PSG a 1-0 lead. The French side continued their pressure, and in the 39th minute, Neves doubled the lead with a clinical finish following a well-worked team move involving Bradley Barcola and Fabian Ruiz. Just before half-time, Inter Miami's Tomas Aviles inadvertently turned a cross from Desire Doue into his own net, making the score 3-0. Achraf Hakimi sealed the victory in added time of the first half, capitalizing on a rebound after his initial shot hit the bar, resulting in a final first-half score of 4-0.

The second half saw PSG ease off, maintaining their lead comfortably. Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, struggled to create meaningful chances. Messi's best opportunity came in the 80th minute with a header, but it was saved by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, ensuring a clean sheet for PSG. The match ended with PSG advancing to the quarter-finals, while Inter Miami's tournament journey concluded.

Reactions and Analysis

Post-match reactions highlighted the disparity in class between the two sides. Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano expressed pride in his team's effort, stating, "I'm very proud of my players. Today you could see the difference in class, but football has given us the chance to compete. This is probably the best team in the world with a great coach, but we took them on" . This sentiment reflected the challenge of facing a European champion like PSG, especially given Inter Miami's historic run to the knockout stage.

For Inter Miami, this was their debut in the Club World Cup, and reaching the Round of 16 was a significant milestone for Major League Soccer (MLS). Despite the heavy defeat, their performance in the group stage, where they finished second in Group A with two wins and a draw, showcased their potential on the global stage. Sources noted Messi's frustration during the match, with reports indicating he was surrounded by PSG players and unable to influence proceedings significantly.

PSG's performance was described as dominant, with X posts and articles emphasizing their control from start to finish. For instance, an X post by

@kettusport

noted, "FT: 4-0 That is it for this match in Atlanta - over as soon as it started, as a dominant first-half performance from Paris Saint-Germain ensures them a 4-0 victory over Inter Miami CF in the round of sixteen" . This victory underscored PSG's status as reigning European champions, having won the UEFA Champions League earlier in the year, and positioned them as strong contenders for the tournament title.

Context and Significance

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, expanded to include 32 teams from six confederations, has provided a platform for clubs from different continents to compete, with a total prize pool of $1 billion. PSG's journey to the quarter-finals, following a rollercoaster group stage where they finished top of Group B with wins over Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders, and a loss to Botafogo, demonstrated their adaptability and attacking depth. Inter Miami, on the other hand, exceeded expectations by advancing from Group A, securing notable victories, including a 2-1 win over Porto, marking the first time a CONCACAF side beat a European team in an official match.

The PSG - Inter Miami match was particularly noteworthy due to Messi's history with PSG, where he spent two turbulent years from 2021 to 2023, scoring 32 goals and providing 35 assists in 75 appearances, winning two Ligue 1 titles but failing to secure the UEFA Champions League. His return to face his former club added an extra layer of intrigue, but PSG's performance left no doubt about their superiority on the day.

Broader Implications

PSG's next challenge is a quarter-final against Bayern Munich on July 5, 2025, at 17:00 BST in Atlanta, promising a high-stakes encounter between two European giants. For Inter Miami, the tournament ends here, but their participation has highlighted the growing competitiveness of MLS on the international stage. The match also raised discussions about the gap between European and American club soccer, with analysts noting PSG's treble-winning form (107 goals in 2025) compared to Inter Miami's recent form, which included an unbeaten run of six matches but only one clean sheet in their last 13.

This article is optimized for search engines, with the keyword "PSG - Inter Miami" included in the title and referenced throughout the text. Additional relevant keywords include "Club World Cup 2025," "Lionel Messi," "PSG quarter-final," and "Inter Miami elimination," ensuring visibility for readers searching for this significant soccer event.

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