Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the famous soccer club from France, is aiming for even more trophies this season! Their star goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, says the team isn’t satisfied yet — they want to win it all, including the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Club World Cup is a special international tournament where the best club teams from different parts of the world compete. Each team gets there by winning big tournaments in their own continent, like the Champions League in Europe or the Copa Libertadores in South America.
A Big Start for PSG
PSG started the Club World Cup in an amazing way. On Sunday, they beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 in their first Group B game. The match took place at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California, a famous stadium that once hosted the 1994 World Cup final.
That win showed everyone that PSG means business.
“We’re hungry for more victories,” said Donnarumma, who is also the main goalkeeper for Italy’s national team. “We started the Club World Cup the same way we finished the Champions League.”
Just two weeks ago, PSG became Champions of Europe by defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League Final — one of the biggest events in club soccer.
What Is the UEFA Champions League?
The UEFA Champions League is a yearly competition between the best club teams in Europe. Teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and PSG compete in it. Winning this tournament means you’re the best team in all of Europe!
By winning it, PSG qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup, and now they want to win that too.
Eyes on Another Trophy
PSG has already won four trophies this season, including the French league title (Ligue 1) and the French Cup. But they don’t want to stop there.
“The Club World Cup is very important to us,” Donnarumma said. “We need to stay 100% focused so we can reach the final and lift the trophy.”
Meet Some of the Players
Gianluigi Donnarumma isn’t the only player on PSG who wants to keep winning.
Fabian Ruiz, a midfielder from Spain, said the team feels good about being favorites to win the tournament. He isn’t nervous at all.
“If people say we’re the best, that’s fine,” Ruiz said. “But we don’t think about the pressure. We just think about our next match.”
Another PSG star, Gonçalo Ramos from Portugal, talked about the next team they’re facing — Botafogo from Brazil.
“I don’t know much about them because their games are late at night,” Ramos said. “But I know they’re a good team, and it’ll be a fun challenge.”
🇧🇷 What About Botafogo?
Botafogo is a famous soccer club from Brazil. They made it to the Club World Cup by winning the Copa Libertadores in 2024. That’s the most important tournament for club teams in South America — kind of like the Champions League, but for countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.
Botafogo has never won the Libertadores before, so 2024 was a historic year for them!
They started the Club World Cup with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders, a team from the United States.
Club World Cup — What Is It?
The FIFA Club World Cup is a tournament that brings together the top club teams from each continent. For example:
Europe sends its Champions League winner.
South America sends its Copa Libertadores champion.
North America (CONCACAF) sends the winner of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
There are also champions from Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
This tournament gives clubs the chance to be called World Champions — something that doesn’t happen in most seasons.
What’s Next for PSG?
PSG’s next game is on Thursday against Botafogo. It will also be played at the Rose Bowl. After that, they’ll travel north to Seattle for their final Group B match against the Seattle Sounders on Monday.
If PSG keeps winning, they’ll go to the Club World Cup semifinals, and maybe even the final.
Fun Soccer Facts for You!
🧤 Gianluigi Donnarumma was just 16 years old when he made his professional debut! He played for AC Milan before joining PSG.
🏟 The Rose Bowl once had nearly 95,000 fans at a match — that’s almost like filling a whole city!
🥇 PSG stands for Paris Saint-Germain. They were founded in 1970, making them a relatively young club compared to teams like Real Madrid or Barcelona.
🌍 The FIFA Club World Cup was first played in 2000, and Real Madrid has won it the most — five times!
Players Stay Humble
Even though PSG is a strong team with lots of star players, they say they’re not taking anything for granted.
“We know every match is different,” said Ramos. “Just because we won the Champions League doesn’t mean we’ll automatically win here. We have to work for it.”
Coach Luis Enrique, who used to coach Spain and Barcelona, also reminded the team to stay focused. “Winning isn’t easy,” he told the team. “But we can do it together.”
Will PSG Be World Champions?
With their amazing start and hungry attitude, PSG is definitely one of the favorites to win the Club World Cup. But they’ll have to beat some tough teams along the way — and anything can happen in soccer.
Will PSG lift their fifth trophy of the season and become world champions?
We’ll have to wait and see! Stay tuned as the tournament continues this week.
