It's Messi's Turn to Become a Victim of PSG's Power

ATLANTA, SUNDAY — Lionel Messi, along with Inter Miami, truly faced misfortune. They had to confront Paris Saint-Germain, which has begun to find its best form in the 2025 Club World Cup. Messi and his teammates were forced to bow down before PSG, on their own turf.

The difference in quality was clearly evident in the round of 16 match between Inter and PSG at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Sunday (29/6/2025) WIB. PSG needed only one half to secure the victory. They were already leading 4-0 at halftime. The score remained unchanged until the end of the match.

PSG, the reigning champion of the 2024-25 Champions League, took the lead with a header from midfielder Joao Neves in the 6th minute. After dominating the game throughout the first half, the team coached by Luis Enrique added three goals in just eight minutes at the end of the first half.

Match statistics also highlight PSG's dominance. They recorded ten shots, while Inter failed to produce a single one. The legendary attacking duo of Inter, Messi and Luis Suarez, nearly only contributed to the defense. "The first half was like a bloodbath," said Inter's Head Coach Javier Mascherano.

Fortunately, Enrique still has a heart. He respects Inter, which is filled with many of his former players from his time coaching Barcelona, such as Messi, Suarez, and Mascherano. Enrique immediately substituted key players, Marquinhos and Fabian Ruiz, right after halftime. PSG was not as aggressive in the second half.

PSG, in the recent match, began to resemble their best version. This dominant performance was displayed at the end of last season when they conquered Europe. Meanwhile, PSG is still searching for their rhythm in the group stage of the Club World Cup, having previously lost to the Brazilian team Botafogo.

Interestingly, PSG has not yet fielded its best squad. Star forward Ousmane Dembele has just returned from injury and made his tournament debut in the second half. "The real competition has just begun. We are starting to face important matches and we are playing well," said Dembele.

Without Dembele, PSG fielded a trio of forwards: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, and Bradley Barcola. They did not remain in one position, constantly rotating with one another. This dynamic movement successfully confused the Inter defense led by wing-back Jordi Alba.

The stark difference between the two teams is evident in the midfield position. PSG has Vitinha, who successfully controls the game in the center. He manages the tempo very well, knowing when to hold the ball or pass it forward. Inter made a significant mistake by not giving him special attention.

Vitinha's dominance is evident from the number of successful passes totaling 117 times. This number is the highest among both teams, nearly double that of the second-highest player, Willian Pacho (67). Vitinha also produced four key passes and one assist.

In comparison to Inter's anchor midfielder, Busquets, who only made 35 successful passes during 90 minutes, the situation is even worse as Busquets also committed a blunder that led to PSG's second goal. Vitinha clearly outperformed Busquets in the midfield battle.

Busquets is indeed one of the best defensive midfielders to have ever existed. However, age cannot be denied. He is already 36 years old and has passed his prime. Vitinha, at 25 years old, is in his prime. The issue of age also applies to Messi, Suarez, and Alba.

Alba stated that Inter was unfortunate to face a team as strong as PSG in the early knockout stage. "We have exceeded the expectations of many people in the knockout stage. However, we have to fight against the best team at the moment. That is difficult. Regardless of what happened in the first half, we were better after that," he said.

Messi had the opportunity to score a consolation goal at the end of the match. Suarez won a free kick right in front of the penalty area. The spectators cheered as Messi had previously scored from a similar position during the group stage. However, Messi's shot only hit the opponent's wall.

After Inter was eliminated, there are no more representatives from the host country, the United States, remaining in the tournament. PSG advanced to the next round and will face the winner of the match between Bayern Munich and Flamengo. "We will watch that match. Whoever the opponent is, it will still be difficult," said Enrique. (AP/REUTERS)