Berlin, 30 June 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Paris Saint-Germain scored three times late in the first half on Sunday as they rolled 4-0 over Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and into the Club World Cup quarter-finals.

Joao Neves scored a sixth and 39th-minute brace before an own goal from Tomas Aviles in the 44th and Achraf Hakimi three minutes into first half stoppage time saw the Champions League winners claim a statement victory in Atlanta.

MLS side Miami improved a little in the second half after being completely outplayed. But neither Messi, 38, nor his team-mates found the net.

The match not only pitted Messi against his ex-club, but he, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba had also played under PSG coach Luis Enrique when he was in charge at Barcelona.

In the last eight on Saturday, also in Atlanta, PSG face Bayern Munich or Brazil's Flamengo who meet later Sunday.

PSG happy

"It is great. We started almost perfect and controlled the match. I am happy with all the players, the mentality," Enrique told streaming portal DAZN.

Player of the Match Neves said he scored a brace for the first time, and added: "We will play our game no matter against who we play. We are confident and happy."

Learning experience for Miami

Miami coach Javier Mascherano admitted that "you could see the difference between the teams. We knew it would be difficult because they are probably the best team in the world.

"But I am proud of the players. We tried to play in the second half. We now have to look forward, it was a big experience."

PSG class in first half

PSG stamped their authority on the match from the kick-off, and Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari made a big early save against Bradley Barcola after a great run by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The treble winners were ahead in the sixth minute when Vitinha floated a free-kick towards the far right corner where the completely unmarked Joao Neves nodded home.

It was more or less one-way traffic as Fibian Ruiz's header into the net was chalked off for offside, and Kvaratskhelia curled just inches wide left.

Ruthless PSG then struck three more times before intermission.

Neves tapped his second into the empty net in the 39th after Miami were dispossessed deep in their own half, Tomas Aviles turned a sharp cross from Desiré Doué into his own net in the 44th, and Achraf Hakimi joined the fun in stoppage time when he smashed home on the rebound of his first effort into the crossbar.

Miami try in vain to score

That settled matters but Miami at least tried harder after the break in search of a consolation goal while PSG sat back a little more to conserve energy.

Suarez failed to control a brilliant over the top flick from Messi, and Messi was later denied twice by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

At the other end, a deflected shot from Barcola went narrowly over as PSG comfortably cruised into the last eight.

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