Ousmane Dembele ended Sunday with more than just memories from Atlanta when he added Lionel Messi’s entire match kit and boots to his growing collection of former Barcelona teammates’ shirts.
Paris Saint-Germain secured a convincing 4-0 victory over Inter Miami to reach the Club World Cup quarter-finals, with Joao Neves netting a brace, an own goal from Tomas Aviles, and an Achraf Hakimi finish all arriving before half-time.
Dembele didn’t stop there. He also obtained the jerseys of Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, further expanding his trophy trove from their shared Barcelona days.
After arriving at PSG in 2023, Dembele has flourished, scoring 33 goals in 49 appearances last season and helping secure both the Ligue 1 and Champions League titles under coach Luis Enrique.
Inter Miami, featuring Messi, were unable to pose a real challenge despite the superstar’s presence, as PSG dominated possession, created chance after chance, and controlled every phase of play.
Luis Enrique praised his squad’s collective effort, highlighting that the scoreline belied how competitive the match felt, especially in the second half when Miami pushed forward more aggressively.
Dembele’s display off the pitch capped a day of celebration for PSG’s squad-building ambitions, showcasing not only their on-field superiority but also the camaraderie among some of football’s biggest names.
Earlier, Softfootball.com reported Lionel Messi reflecting on his difficult spell at Paris Saint-Germain ahead of a highly anticipated reunion in the FIFA Club World Cup. Messi will be aiming to pull off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets as Inter Miami face his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, in the Round of 16 this Sunday.
PSG arrive at the Club World Cup as the newly crowned champions of Europe. However, their upcoming clash with Messi’s Inter Miami rekindles memories of a more turbulent chapter for both the Argentine star and the French club.