'Cold' Palmer Freezes PSG in Chelsea’s Icy Club World Cup Triumph
Chelsea stunned European champions Paris Saint-Germain with a commanding 3-0 victory in the FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, securing their second title in the competition’s history and their first since 2021. Cole Palmer, the Blues’ talisman, led the charge with a first-half brace and an assist, outshining a PSG side that had dominated the tournament until this shocking defeat.
Palmer, 23, struck twice in the 22nd and 30th minutes with near-identical finishes, exploiting space behind PSG’s defense as part of manager Enzo Maresca’s tactical masterplan. His signature “cold” celebration thrilled Chelsea fans in the sweltering New Jersey heat. João Pedro, in only his second start since joining from Brighton, sealed the first-half rout with a deft chip over Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 43rd minute, his third goal of the tournament. “The gaffer knew where there’d be space and freed me up,” Palmer told FIFA post-match. “I had to repay him with goals. He’s building something special, and we’re heading in the right direction.”
PSG, who suffered only one prior tournament loss (1-0 to Botafogo), crumbled under Chelsea’s relentless high press and long balls. Their misery deepened when João Neves was sent off in the 85th minute for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair, leaving them with 10 players. Post-match tensions flared as PSG manager Luis Enrique appeared to grab João Pedro’s neck during a heated altercation involving Donnarumma. Enrique later claimed he was separating players amid “a lot of tension and pressure,” according to the Associated Press.
Chelsea’s second half saw them maintain control, with goalkeeper Robert Sánchez’s six saves ensuring a clean sheet. “We won the game in the first 10 minutes,” Maresca, 45, said. “We set the tempo and found space for Cole to attack. The players’ effort was fantastic.” The Italian, in his first season since joining from Leicester City, has silenced doubters, guiding Chelsea to their second trophy of the season after a 4-1 UEFA Conference League final win over Real Betis in May.
The victory, watched by 81,118 fans, capped a remarkable campaign for Chelsea, who secured a UEFA Champions League berth with a fourth-place EPL finish. Palmer, with 18 goals since his 2023 move from Manchester City, earned the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Sánchez claimed the Golden Glove for fewest goals conceded, while PSG’s 20-year-old Désiré Doué took the Best Young Player award.
Cole Palmer (23) wins 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Best Player of the Tournament award.
The trophy ceremony, led by US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, drew mixed reactions, with some fans booing Trump as he presented medals and awards. Chelsea captain Reece James lifted the trophy alongside teammates in “World Champions 25” kits, while Infantino guided Trump behind the squad to let the players shine. The glitzy event, featuring a halftime show with Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems, and Emmanuel Kelly, underscored FIFA’s lavish production, though critics noted the delayed kickoff and congested calendar risks.
PSG’s loss, their worst since a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle in October 2023, halted their quadruple dreams after Ligue 1 and Coupe de France triumphs. They now face Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13, while Chelsea prepare for the 2025-26 EPL season starting August 17. “It’s a great feeling,” Palmer said. “Everyone doubted us, but we put up a fight.”
