Chelsea Football Club have written a glorious chapter in their history, lifting the revamped FIFA Club World Cup trophy after an emphatic 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Sunday.
In front of over 81,000 fans at Yokohama Stadium, it was Cole Palmer who stole the spotlight with a first-half performance that will long be remembered.
The 23-year-old midfielder delivered two spectacular goals within the opening 30 minutes. Palmer opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a sublime left-footed curler into the bottom corner, capitalizing on a PSG defensive lapse.
Just eight minutes later, he doubled the advantage with a near-identical strike, once again placing the ball beyond the reach of the keeper after cutting inside from the edge of the area.
Palmer wasn’t done. In the 44th minute, he turned creator, orchestrating a brilliant counter-attack and threading a precise through ball to Joao Pedro, who made no mistake in slotting home Chelsea’s third. The Blues entered halftime with a commanding 3-0 lead that left PSG stunned.
PSG had reached the final with a dominant 4-0 win over Real Madrid, but they were outclassed by a disciplined and dynamic Chelsea side.
Despite some promising moves in the second half, PSG failed to break through Chelsea’s defense. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez produced several key saves, including a critical stop against Ousmane Dembele in the 53rd minute.
Frustration boiled over for the French champions when Joao Neves was sent off in the 84th minute for a reckless challenge on Marc Cucurella, all but sealing their fate.
Palmer’s brilliance throughout the tournament earned him the Best Player of the Tournament title, along with the Man of the Match award for the final. Robert Sanchez also received honors, being named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament for his consistent and crucial contributions.
Chelsea’s triumph not only underscores their tactical strength and depth but also signals a new era of dominance under their current squad.
With Palmer emerging as a world-class playmaker and their defense standing firm, Chelsea’s Club World Cup victory is more than just a trophy—it’s a powerful statement on the global stage.