Lionel Messi and Inter Miami exit Club World Cup after 4-0 loss to PSG in round of 16
ATLANTA (AP) — The champions of Europe booted Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates out of the Club World Cup on Sunday.
Paris Saint-Germain, Messi's former club and the team that won the Champions League final only a few weeks ago, contained one of the game's greatest players at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and routed Inter Miami 4-0 in the round of 16.
Defensive struggles again plagued Miami with all four of PSG's goals coming before halftime. An early injury to defender Noah Allen contributed to then team's problems, while goalkeeper Oscar Ustari continued to excel.
Offensively, Messi and his forward line spent the majority of the first half in their own half. The second-half performance improved, but the team appeared to be overly reliant on a moment of Messi magic to help them advance.
Inter Miami was the only Major League Soccer team to advance to the expanded tournament's knockout round. The team defied expectations with a 2-1 victory over Portuguese club FC Porto, which was heavily favored going into the match.
That performance caught the attention of soccer fans around the world as Miami became the first MLS team to beat a European club in an official competition.
Messi exits the tournament with a perfect record of group stage advancement. The Argentine has never been eliminated in the group stage of an official tournament, whether playing for a club or his Argentina national team.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
Despite Sunday's loss, Miami's tournament play showed many positives as the team prepares to return to its MLS schedule. Besides the win over Porto, Miami also drew with Brazilian club Palmeiras, a team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the competition on Saturday.
Miami is in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with an 8-3-5 record, 11 points behind first-place Philadelphia Union.
Last season, Miami won the MLS Supporters' Shield for the league's best regular-season record.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
37 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
French soccer union blasts Club World Cup over 'massacre' of player welfare
Article content Last September, Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered a severe knee injury soon after saying players were close to going on strike over excessive workloads. No rest for PSG Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain is one of the biggest sides involved in the Club World Cup. After winning the Champions League on May 31, key PSG players like Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue played for France and then went to the United States soon after for the Club World Cup. Some French clubs have already resumed training for the upcoming Ligue 1 season, which begins mid-August, while others start next week. PSG was not able to push back its start to the Ligue 1 season. RECOMMENDED VIDEO 'We don't see how or why the Parisians should not benefit from the three weeks of complete rest they are entitled to,' the UNFP said, adding that the toll of extra games for PSG's players could impact the national team in early September. 'A delay in preparation that must also worry (France coach) Didier Deschamps ahead of two qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup. What do you say, Mr. Infantino?' FIFA hopes the event will be to club soccer what the World Cup is to international soccer and establish itself as one of the biggest and wealthiest tournaments in sport. The old version of the Club World Cup, which was played yearly, was dominated by European teams in recent times. Only Brazilian team Corinthians broke Europe's winning run in 17 years.
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
French soccer union blasts Club World Cup over 'massacre' of player welfare
PARIS — France's union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the Club World Cup on Sunday, saying it is 'urgent to stop this massacre' amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads. Article content The UNFP also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of living 'in an ivory tower' by ignoring the impact congested calendars have on players worldwide. Article content Article content Article content 'The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers. From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game's leading players,' the UNFP said in a statement early Sunday morning. 'His (Infantino's) Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this massacre game. He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars.' Article content The UNFP statement said the Club World Cup comes at the end of an already exhausting season, and thereby ignores 'collective bargaining agreements (which) almost everywhere, provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.' Article content Article content Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, which ends on July 13, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. Article content Article content The newly expanded tournament involving 32 of the world's best teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America. Article content 'The UNFP, like FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, has been protesting for years against the drastic increase in workloads,' the UNFP added. 'But also against the harmful repercussions for domestic football of a calendar that FIFA is still alone in building today.'
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
French soccer union blasts Club World Cup over 'massacre' of player welfare
Published Jun 29, 2025 • 3 minute read FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks to the media at a welcoming event for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament, April 10, 2025, in Philadelphia. Photo by Chris Szagola / AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. PARIS — France's union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the Club World Cup on Sunday, saying it is 'urgent to stop this massacre' amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The UNFP also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of living 'in an ivory tower' by ignoring the impact congested calendars have on players worldwide. 'The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers. From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game's leading players,' the UNFP said in a statement early Sunday morning. 'His (Infantino's) Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this massacre game. He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars.' The UNFP statement said the Club World Cup comes at the end of an already exhausting season, and thereby ignores 'collective bargaining agreements (which) almost everywhere, provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. FIFA was approached for a comment by The Associated Press. Read More Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, which ends on July 13, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. The newly expanded tournament involving 32 of the world's best teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America. It went ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe, strike threats and repeated concerns over players' mental and physical welfare due to too many games. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The UNFP, like FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, has been protesting for years against the drastic increase in workloads,' the UNFP added. 'But also against the harmful repercussions for domestic football of a calendar that FIFA is still alone in building today.' Last September, Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered a severe knee injury soon after saying players were close to going on strike over excessive workloads. No rest for PSG Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain is one of the biggest sides involved in the Club World Cup. After winning the Champions League on May 31, key PSG players like Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue played for France and then went to the United States soon after for the Club World Cup. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Some French clubs have already resumed training for the upcoming Ligue 1 season, which begins mid-August, while others start next week. PSG was not able to push back its start to the Ligue 1 season. RECOMMENDED VIDEO 'We don't see how or why the Parisians should not benefit from the three weeks of complete rest they are entitled to,' the UNFP said, adding that the toll of extra games for PSG's players could impact the national team in early September. 'A delay in preparation that must also worry (France coach) Didier Deschamps ahead of two qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup. What do you say, Mr. Infantino?' FIFA hopes the event will be to club soccer what the World Cup is to international soccer and establish itself as one of the biggest and wealthiest tournaments in sport. The old version of the Club World Cup, which was played yearly, was dominated by European teams in recent times. Only Brazilian team Corinthians broke Europe's winning run in 17 years. Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs Sports World Toronto Maple Leafs
