Palmer Powers Chelsea to Stunning 3-0 Club World Cup Final Win Over PSG

East Rutherford, USA: In a night that will be remembered as a turning point for Chelsea's new era, Cole Palmer delivered a masterclass at Met Life Stadium, scoring twice and setting up a third to crush European giants Paris Saint -Germain 3-0 in the final of the first expanded FIFA Club World Cup.

Under the floodlights before a record -setting crowd of 81,188, including US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Chelsea dismantled the Champions League winners in a ruthless first-half blitz that left PSG stunned and chasing shadows. Palmer, just 23 and already a cult hero at Stamford Bridge, was the architect of destruction.

After an opening 20 minutes of probing, Palmer struck gold in the 22nd minute. A misjudged header from Nuno Mendes turned a routine clearance into a nightmare for PSG, and Chelsea pounced. Malo Gusto's shot deflected off Lucas Beraldo, and Palmer was there to bury the loose ball with a calm left- footed finish that ended PSG's 436 -minute clean sheet streak.

The second came just eight minutes later. Levi Colwill sent a precise long ball down the flank, and Palmer did the rest, gliding inside from the right, beating two defenders, and curling another left-footed shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma. The crowd erupted. PSG looked shell-shocked.

By the 43rd minute, it was 3-0. Palmer, now oozing confidence, sliced through PSG’s midfield with a sublime through ball to Joao Pedro, who deftly chipped the advancing Donnarumma. It was Pedro’s third goal in two starts for the Blues, a sign Chelsea’s attack is finally clicking.

Chelsea's English midfielder #10 Cole Palmer celebrates scoring during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final football match between England's Chelsea and France's Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 13, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

While Chelsea basked in their first-half brilliance, PSG unravelled. Despite coming into the match as favorites, having already bagged the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, and a long-awaited Champions League trophy, the Parisians were second-best all over the pitch. Their night got worse in the 84th minute when Joao Neves was sent off for a petulant foul, yanking Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella down by his hair.

Tensions boiled over in the dying minutes as PSG coach Luis Enrique and Donnarumma confronted Joao Pedro at midfield, forcing officials and teammates to intervene.

Chelsea's dominance was undeniable. Rested and ready, the Blues had one more day of recovery than PSG after their semifinal and it showed. They were sharper, faster, and far more clinical. After a turbulent Premier League campaign that saw them finish fourth, and a Conference League trophy that barely silenced critics, this was the statement victory they craved.

eece James lifts the trophy with teammates during the award ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Champions, following the final football match between England's Chelsea and France's Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 13, 2025. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City two years ago, has now scored 18 goals this season, and none bigger than these.

Chelsea captain Reece James lifted the Club World Cup trophy for the second time in the club’s history, the first being their 2021 triumph. This time, the prize money is estimated between 128 million dollars and 153 million dollars , a jaw-dropping figure FIFA has not fully disclosed.

As for PSG, this was their first defeat by a margin of three goals since their 4-1 Champions League loss to Newcastle back in 2023. Coach Luis Enrique, clearly rattled, gave a blunt assessment:

“They had a lot of energy..I believe they were actually better than we were.”

And now, Chelsea look ahead to the 2025-26 season, just weeks away, with momentum, belief, and the firepower to challenge England’s elite. After a season of rebuilding and ridicule, the Blues may finally be ready to roar again.

From doubted to dominant, Chelsea are world champions once more.