In what will go down as a landmark night in Chelsea’s modern history, the Blues produced a dazzling display of dominance to crush Paris Saint-Germain 3–0 in the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The win handed Chelsea their second world title and made them the first-ever champions under the expanded 32-team format.
On a night where the lights shone brightest, it was Cole Palmer who delivered the spark. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder put on a masterclass, scoring twice and assisting once, cementing his place as one of the brightest stars in world football.
The tone of the match was set early. In the 22nd minute, Palmer pounced on a defensive lapse and slotted home coolly to give Chelsea the lead. Just eight minutes later, he struck again—this time with a composed finish following a clever pass from Enzo Fernández—leaving the PSG backline in disarray.
Chelsea’s dominance was absolute, and just before halftime, Palmer turned provider. Spotting a run from João Pedro, he threaded a perfectly weighted through ball which the Brazilian forward delicately chipped over Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 3–0. It was a finish worthy of the stage.
PSG, already rattled, lost their discipline as the game wore on. João Neves was shown a red card late in the second half, and tempers flared on the touchline with manager Luis Enrique visibly frustrated.
Reports even suggest a post-match confrontation between the Spanish coach and Chelsea staff, though the London club remained focused on the celebrations.
The crowd of over 81,000 was treated to a dominant performance from Chelsea, who looked every bit like world champions. Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez made key saves when called upon, and the backline marshaled by Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill kept Dembele and PSG’s star-studded attack silent.
The win not only added silverware to Chelsea’s growing trophy cabinet but also brought in an estimated £110 million in prize money, boosting the club’s finances under manager Enzo Maresca, who has quickly stamped his identity on this exciting young side.
With their 2021 Club World Cup title already in the bag, Chelsea now become just the second English club to win the trophy multiple times, joining Manchester United.
But this triumph, on the grandest version of the Club World Cup to date, feels like a turning point—a signal that a new Chelsea era has truly arrived.
As the fireworks lit up the New Jersey sky and confetti rained down on the players, one thing became clear: Chelsea, once again, are kings of the footballing world.
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Story by Samuel Annang|univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Pius Asack.
