Inter Miami Eliminated from FIFA Club World Cup by PSG
On Sunday, Inter Miami faced a decisive exit from the FIFA Club World Cup, falling 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning champions of Europe.
At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, PSG, Messi's former team and recent Champions League victors, showcased their dominance early on. All four goals were scored before halftime, capitalizing on Miami's defensive vulnerabilities.
An injury to defender Noah Allen exacerbated Miami's struggles, while goalkeeper Oscar Ustari delivered a commendable performance despite the scoreline. The first half saw Messi and his teammates largely confined to their own half, unable to mount significant offensive threats.
While the second half showed some improvement, Miami's reliance on Messi for a breakthrough became evident. The team had previously made headlines by defeating FC Porto 2-1, marking a historic moment as the first MLS team to triumph over a European club in an official competition.
"I think we've performed at a high level," said defender Jordi Alba. "This will help us gain confidence and know that we can compete against anyone if we're at the level we have been at this Club World Cup."
Messi leaves the tournament with an unblemished record in group stage advancement, having never faced elimination in such rounds throughout his career with both club and country.
Despite the setback against PSG, Miami's overall performance in the tournament revealed several positives as they gear up for their MLS schedule. Alongside their victory over Porto, they also managed a draw against Brazilian club Palmeiras, which advanced to the quarterfinals.
Currently, Miami sits sixth in the Eastern Conference with an 8-3-5 record, trailing first-place Philadelphia Union by 11 points. Last season, they clinched the MLS Supporters' Shield for achieving the best regular-season record.
