PSG Humble Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 to Cruise into Club World Cup Quarterfinals

Paris Saint-Germain delivered a ruthless reminder of European dominance as they dismantled Inter Miami 4-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 on Sunday, with Joao Neves scoring twice in a first-half masterclass at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Facing his former club for the first time since his 2023 move to the United States, Lionel Messi endured a frustrating return as PSG cruised past his Inter Miami side with ease. The French champions will now face Bayern Munich in Saturday's quarterfinal after the German side dispatched Flamengo 4-2 earlier in the day.

A One-Sided Affair

PSG proved their advantage in minutes. After Desire Doue earned a free kick beyond the area, Vitinha's superbly weighted pass found Joao Neves, who headed past Oscar Ustari for the first goal. From then on, PSG ruled. Fabian Ruiz intercepted Sergio Busquets' foul ball and started a clean play that concluded with Neves scoring his second from the penalty area in the 39th minute.

Inter Miami's situation deteriorated three minutes later. PSG extended their advantage to 3-0 when replacement Tomas Aviles' chest deflected a left-wing cross into his net. Bradley Barcola then supplied Achraf Hakimi inside the box at halftime. Ustari saved Hakimi's initial shot, but the Moroccan wingback scored PSG's fourth on the rebound.

Messi's Frustrating Reunion

Messi, 36, who won two Ligue 1 championships with PSG before joining Inter Miami, remained quiet. In the 51st minute, his initial attempt was deflected for a corner. His most excellent opportunity came in the 80th minute when a looping header caused Gianluigi Donnarumma to dive save one of three attempts.

After halftime, Messi put up Luis Suárez for a potential run at goal, but the Uruguayan striker missed and kicked a water bottle into the bleachers.

Neves Shines

Joao Neves, 19, was the star of the evening. The young Portuguese midfielder not only bagged a brace but also showcased maturity and vision that belied his age. Speaking after the match, he remained modest:

"It is the first time I have scored two in one game, so I am thrilled. But I am happier for the win. We have the same confidence as before. We'll play our game, no matter who our opponents are."

Post-Match Reactions

While PSG head coach Luis Enrique praised his team's first-half performance and overall discipline, Inter Miami's coach Javier Mascherano called the encounter a "learning experience":

"We knew today was going to be very, very difficult. They [PSG] are probably the best team in the world. In the second half, we tried to play and show our worth."

Looking Ahead

PSG has preserved three successive clean sheets in the competition and remains the favorite after this impressive performance. Their 2020 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal rematch against Bayern Munich will be a thrilling matchup.

Inter Miami's loss highlights the disparity between MLS and Europe's top leagues. Messi and Suárez's return to top competition was humiliating, and Miami may reassess its tactics and squad structure.

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