Messi helpless against PSG |
The 0-4 scoreline against PSG at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ didn’t surprise anyone, but the match was a chilling snapshot of the true gulf between elite European football and the growing ambitions of MLS. Even Lionel Messi, who was always expected to change everything, was powerless against a PSG side that was too uniform, too accomplished, and too “old” for the young Inter Miami.
One match… three levels
It took PSG just five minutes to make Inter Miami understand that this was not a game of miracles. Vitinha delivered a free kick with centimeter accuracy, and João Neves cut in like a textbook to score the opening goal. It was not a shock, but a warning of what was to come.
Inter Miami fought hard to defend, trying to hold on, but against a PSG team that played like a machine under Luis Enrique, it was a desperate effort. The match ended with 19 shots for the French team, 9 of which were on target, and 4 goals scored in the first half alone - the match was considered over at the break.
Lionel Messi still has his moments to take your breath away. But against PSG, it wasn’t enough. He carried Inter Miami past Porto and inspired a draw against Palmeiras, but against the European champions, the No. 10 needed more – and unfortunately, there was no one around him of sufficient calibre to share the load.
Messi alone cannot save Inter Miami. |
The “old friends” like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets or Jordi Alba are also getting older and cannot run as consistently as they did in their prime. Younger names like Cremaschi, Allen or Avilés are still too young for the harsh environment like the Club World Cup.
MLS and the unavoidable reality
The truth is that the MLS system is not designed to compete on an equal footing with Europe's top clubs. The "Designated Player" system, salary caps, contract limits, short transfer windows... all tie the hands of teams like Inter Miami.
Javier Mascherano - who replaced Tata Martino on the bench - did not shy away from it: “We could not buy more, we could not rotate the squad in time, and now the injuries have exposed everything.”
The reality is clear: Allen was injured in the 19th minute, Avilés came on and made a mistake immediately - a yellow card, then an own goal. Meanwhile, PSG has a series of quality players ready to replace without weakening the system.
The loss to PSG was a blow, but not a total defeat. This is a team in its sixth year, reaching the knockout stages of the Club World Cup for the first time - something neither the Seattle Sounders nor LAFC have ever done.
Inter Miami beat Porto, drew with Palmeiras, and had a moment of brilliance against Al Ahly. And most importantly, they have a core of young players - Fray, Cremaschi, Allen - who are experiencing football outside CONCACAF for the first time. They will come back stronger, because they now know what it means to be at the top.
Jordi Alba is right: “Luis Enrique built PSG into a machine where those who don’t run don’t play. And once everyone runs, they can’t be stopped.” Inter Miami can’t run as fast as PSG, but they have started to take the first steps.
The 0-4 scoreline is a bitter reminder. But if Inter Miami can use this experience to adjust their strategy, promote youth development and continue to press for structural reform in MLS, they can absolutely come back stronger next season.
Because football doesn't punish failures - it only punishes those who don't learn from their failures. And Inter Miami, with Messi as their symbol, are learning fast.
Messi and teammates were crushed by PSG. In the early morning of June 30, PSG crushed Inter Miami 4-0 in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
Source: https://znews.vn/messi-khong-the-va-duoc-khoang-cach-giua-hai-the-gioi-post1564686.html
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