The World Stage

Off to the United States for the first 32-team Club World Cup. The draw has handed PSG the hardest possible path. No matter. This team backs down from nothing.

Messi's Inter Miami are swept aside. Four goals, zero reply. In the quarter-final, against Bayern Munich, the unthinkable happens.

Pacho and Lucas Hernández are sent off. Down to nine against eleven. But this team does not know the word surrender. Doué and Dembélé find the net. 2-0 with nine against eleven. Pure madness.

In the semi-final, the much-anticipated clash: Real Madrid. The first meeting with Mbappé since his departure.

4-0. Humiliation. The collective against the individuals. Mbappé powerless against the system that replaced him.

In the final, exhaustion catches up with PSG. The draw had been ruthless: Inter Miami, Bayern Munich while down to nine, Real Madrid. On the other side of the bracket, Chelsea had a far less demanding run. Without Pacho, physically drained after three legendary matches, PSG cannot compete.

The only trophy to escape this legendary team. The bitterness is there, but so is the pride. Beating Messi, Mbappé and Bayern while down to nine in the same tournament: nobody had done it. Nobody will do it again.