Cole Jermaine Palmer delivered a sensational performance to lead Chelsea to a commanding 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday.
The win, achieved at the MetLife Stadium in New York, marked a historic moment for Chelsea as they claimed the inaugural title of FIFA’s newly expanded 32-team tournament and secured a prize of over £90 million.
Palmer, 22, was at the heart of Chelsea’s triumph, scoring twice and assisting the third goal in a breathtaking first-half display that left the reigning European champions reeling.
He opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a precise left-footed strike after Malo Gusto’s blocked attempt fell to him. Eight minutes later, he doubled the lead, cutting in from the right after receiving a long ball from Levi Colwill and slotting coolly past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Before the break, Palmer turned provider, setting up Joao Pedro, who finished expertly to make it 3-0 and put the match beyond PSG’s reach.
PSG, aiming for their fifth trophy of the season, failed to recover from the early onslaught. Their frustration spilled over in the 85th minute when midfielder Joao Neves was shown a straight red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair. Tensions flared again after the final whistle, with PSG head coach Luis Enrique clashing with Pedro during Chelsea’s on-pitch celebrations.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez also played a vital role, producing crucial saves to keep out efforts from Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Neves as PSG tried to rally.
The final attracted a crowd of 81,118 and was attended by U.S. President Donald Trump. A halftime show featuring Doja Cat and Nigerian star Tems added to the spectacle.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca described the night as “a night of belief, bravery and brilliance,” as the Blues became the first champions of FIFA’s revamped global club competition.
(NAN)