Chelsea Crowned Club World Champions After Palmer’s Dazzling Double Against PSG
MetLife Stadium, New Jersey — July 13, 2025 — Chelsea FC delivered a stunning performance to claim the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup title, overpowering Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in a thrilling final at the MetLife Stadium. In front of over 81,000 spectators, it was Cole Palmer who stole the spotlight, scoring twice and assisting once in a dominant first-half display that left the reigning European champions reeling.
Palmer, Chelsea’s breakout star this season, showcased his full array of talents in what is now considered one of the most memorable individual performances in the competition’s history. His clinical finishing and intelligent movement dismantled a PSG side that failed to recover from an early onslaught and ended the match with ten men.
⚽ Palmer Ignites Chelsea's Early Surge
Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute following a costly error by PSG defender Nuno Mendes, whose misplaced pass was intercepted by Malo Gusto. Although Mendes initially blocked Gusto’s shot, the Chelsea fullback recovered quickly and found Palmer in acres of space. The 22-year-old midfielder slotted home a composed finish into the bottom left corner, giving Chelsea the momentum they would never relinquish.
The Blues doubled their advantage just minutes after the mandated 30th-minute cooling break. This time, it was Levi Colwill who set things in motion with a pinpoint through ball. Palmer expertly controlled it, feinted a pass to deceive a defender, and fired a low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma, extending Chelsea’s lead to 2-0 with style and precision.
🧠 A Goal and Two Assists Before Half-Time
Not content with just scoring, Palmer turned provider shortly before halftime. Bursting down the flank, he threaded a perfect ball to João Pedro, who expertly timed his run to beat the offside trap. The Brazilian forward calmly chipped his shot over the onrushing Donnarumma, sealing Chelsea’s third goal in a half that left PSG visibly shell-shocked.
Palmer's first-half performance — two goals and one assist — proved decisive and firmly established him as one of Europe’s brightest young stars.
🚩 PSG Collapse and See Red
Despite attempts to regroup in the second half, PSG failed to mount a comeback. Their night went from bad to worse in the 83rd minute when João Neves was sent off for violent conduct after pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair during a sideline tussle. It was a symbolic moment that summed up PSG’s frustrations in a match where little went right for the French champions.
📊 Record Attendance, But Not a Full House
Sunday’s final drew an impressive 81,118 fans, making it the most attended match of the revamped tournament. However, the MetLife Stadium, which has a full capacity of 93,000, still had empty seats — a curious detail for such a high-profile showdown between two of Europe’s elite clubs.
🏆 Chelsea Make History
This triumph marks a major milestone in Chelsea's international success under their current managerial era. It also underscores the club’s growing reliance on young, homegrown talents like Palmer, who continues to flourish on the global stage.
With this victory, Chelsea joins the elite circle of clubs that have lifted the FIFA Club World Cup multiple times. More importantly, the match serves as a clear statement of intent from the London side: the next generation is here, and it’s ready to dominate.