AFCON 2025
Lionel Messi suffered heartbreak in his first clash against a former club, as Paris Saint-Germain tore through Inter Miami with a dazzling first-half performance, cruising to a 4-0 win in their Club World Cup last-16 tie in Atlanta.
Despite an unbeaten group stage, Miami were clear underdogs against the European champions. PSG’s dominance showed early when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sliced through Miami’s defense, setting up Bradley Barcola to test Oscar Ustari.
The warning went unheeded, and PSG struck in the sixth minute. João Neves ghosted unmarked to head in Vitinha’s deep free-kick.
Miami held firm until the final minutes of the half, when PSG unleashed havoc. Fabián Ruiz won the ball high, linked with Barcola, and set up Neves for his second.
Disaster followed as Tomás Avilés turned Désiré Doué’s cross into his own net, and Achraf Hakimi scored after his shot hit the crossbar, netting PSG’s third in a brutal nine-minute spell.
After the break, Miami showed faint signs of life. Messi’s tame shot, their first on target, was easily saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. PSG eased off, though Barcola nearly added another with a deflected effort.
Donnarumma later denied Messi’s header, thwarting the Argentine’s bid for a seventh CWC goal.
PSG will now advance to face Flamengo or Bayern Munich in Saturday’s quarter-final in Atlanta.
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