Cole Palmer delivered a sensational performance as Chelsea dismantled European champions Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 to lift the first-ever expanded FIFA Club World Cup trophy on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, New York.
The London club defied all odds against a star-studded PSG side, fresh off a dominant UEFA Champions League triumph, in front of a packed 81,118 crowd that notably included former U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
Palmer, one of Chelsea’s standout stars this season, netted twice and set up another before halftime in a clinical display that left PSG shell-shocked. The English forward opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, added a second shortly after the half-hour mark, and turned provider for Brazilian striker Joao Pedro, who made it 3-0 just before the break.
The defeat marked a rare collapse for PSG, who had blitzed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinals but were unable to contain a spirited Chelsea side determined to cap their season in style.
Historic Glory for Chelsea This triumph cements Chelsea’s remarkable campaign, having already secured the UEFA Conference League title and a fourth-place Premier League finish. The victory also earned them a staggering $125 million prize purse.
For Cole Palmer, the final was a crowning moment in a breakout year. Dubbed the face of Chelsea’s U.S. tour, Palmer’s influence was evident throughout the competition and, crucially, in the showpiece final where he outshone global stars like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.
The game took a further sour turn for PSG when Joao Neves received a straight red card following a VAR review for an off-the-ball incident involving Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, capping a frustrating evening for the French champions.
A Spectacle in New York Adding to the occasion, FIFA staged its first-ever halftime show at a men’s tournament, giving the final a Super Bowl-style atmosphere under the Manhattan skyline. But it was Chelsea’s footballing masterclass that ultimately stole the spotlight on a sweltering New Jersey afternoon.
Luis Enrique’s PSG will now regroup ahead of next month’s UEFA Super Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur, while Chelsea head into a well-deserved break as history makers.
