Joao Neves Stars as PSG Sweep Aside Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 to Reach Club World Cup Quarterfinals

PSG made a powerful statement on Sunday night, crushing Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to book their spot in the Club World Cup quarterfinals.

Portuguese midfielder Joao Neves was the standout performer, netting twice in a first-half display that left the French champions firmly in control. Neves opened the scoring in the sixth minute, heading home unmarked at the far post after a well-worked free kick.

He doubled his tally in the 39th minute, capping off a flowing team move orchestrated by Bradley Barcola and Fabian Ruiz, who set up Neves for a cool finish.

Inter Miami struggled to find their rhythm and offered little resistance as PSG dominated the first half. The gap widened in the 42nd minute when Miami defender Tomas Aviles turned Désiré Doué’s cross into his own net, and Achraf Hakimi quickly made it four, reacting fastest after his own effort rattled the crossbar.

“It was an almost perfect match,” PSG manager Luis Enrique said afterward. “We created a lot of chances and I’m happy with the performance, though I still think we can improve. That’s football.”

Lionel Messi, the former PSG star now captaining Inter Miami, tried to rally his team in the second half but was repeatedly denied by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The crowd’s hopes for a consolation goal were dashed as Messi’s best chance, a close-range header was saved, and his free kick hit the defensive wall.

Despite the heavy defeat, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano remained upbeat. “I’m very proud of my players. The difference in class was obvious, but football gave us the opportunity to compete on this stage. PSG are probably the best team in the world right now, and we took them on,” he said.

With the victory, PSG, reigning Champions League winners, move on to face Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals, after the German giants defeated Flamengo 4-2 earlier in the day.