Chelsea Football Club crushed Paris Saint‑Germain 3-0 in a landslide final victory where leaving the football world shocked over the result. They have done it on the biggest and latest global stage in quite a fashion. Chelsea have won the inaugural 32‑team FIFA Club World Cup. The blues were powered by their star-man Cole Palmer’s who ran the show over an unstoppable PSG team. Luis Enrique, who led the Parisian club to their first ever Champions Trophy in their history was left bewildered by the tactical masterclass from Chelsea's manager Enzo Maresca, this is Chelsea's second world title in four years—cementing their place among football’s elite.
Despite the heat, it was ice cold at the MetLife stadium as Cole Palmer stole the spotlight with a performance for the ages, he saved his best for the biggest stage yet again, netting twice in the first half and assisting João Pedro's third. His 22nd-minute strike from outside the box gave Chelsea the start they could only have dreamed of, that was followed by a calm finish just eight minutes later. Palmer’s assist for João Pedro in the 43rd minute completed a ruthless 21-minute dismantling of PSG’s defense. PSG had no answers to the questions Palmer asked of them and the European Champions were down and out within the first half itself.
PSG were completely overwhelmed by the tactics that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca threw at them, a rare sight this season for the European Champions who have previously defeated every single Premier League they have played before.The credit for this massive victory that makes Chelsea the first team in history to win all major title possible at the club level goes majorly towards Maresca as well.
Chelsea’s triumph brought a staggering £84.5 million ($114.6 million) payday, with each player reportedly earning £350,000 bonuses. The windfall is expected to fund reinforcements as the Blues eye a serious Champions League push next season. This victory adds to Chelsea’s already impressive collection, etching their name in history as the team to win the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and now the Club World Cup twice (2021, 2025). It also signals a new era under Maresca, following their UEFA Conference League success earlier this year.
The tournament served as a trial run for the 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be hosted by the United States of America, fans have complained about the timing of the games alongside complaints about the heat, traffic, and pitch conditions which drew criticism from teams and fans. Chelsea's dominance did the work for the sport in America but there were several headlines that got a lot more attention than the actual sport.
Among many things that made the headlines, the most bizarre one has to be the U.S. President Donald Trump presenting Chelsea with a replica trophy while controversially keeping the original FIFA Club World Cup in his possession. The move prompted a chorus of boos from fans, while Chelsea players appeared visibly confused on stage.
“FIFA made a replica—it’s the same thing, just shinier.”
This marked the end to a truly remarkable and memorable season for football.
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