Real Madrid’s crushing 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Club World Cup semifinals has sent shockwaves through the club—but it also sparked an uncomfortable comparison: Lionel Messi, playing for Inter Miami, delivered a better individual performance against the same opponent just days earlier.

Messi Shined Despite a 4-0 Loss

In the Round of 16, Inter Miami also suffered a 4-0 loss to PSG, yet Messi was one of the few bright spots. According to SofaScore, the Argentine earned a 7.6 rating, showing flashes of brilliance even as his team was overwhelmed.

Madrid Fell Short—Across the Board

By contrast, not a single Real Madrid player managed to reach a 7.0 rating in their own 4-0 defeat. The best-rated was Kylian Mbappé (ironically, playing for PSG) with a 6.8, followed by Fede Valverde and Thibaut Courtois, all still below Messi’s numbers from the previous round.

An Uncomfortable Comparison

While the two matches had different contexts, the stat is telling: Messi, at 38 years old and playing in MLS, managed a better individual display than any Madrid player in one of the club’s most critical games of the season.

The comparison paints a harsh picture for Xabi Alonso’s squad, highlighting just how far off the pace Real Madrid looked against top-level opposition—and how much needs to change moving forward.