PSG and Real Madrid Face Injury Crisis as Key Players Miss Club World Cup Semifinal Showdown

Paris Saint-Germain face Real Madrid in a spectacular summer showdown with a place in the Club World Cup final on the line.

While such high-profile encounters at this season are typically reserved for prestigious friendlies, Wednesday's battle at MetLife carries significant weight.

The consistent European powerhouses are meeting the continent's elite in pursuit of worldwide dominance. PSG have emerged as the standout team of 2025, while Real Madrid have dominated the previous ten years.

Star players will feature prominently in this matchup, though both squads are missing crucial personnel for the semifinal. Here's a comprehensive overview of all the players who have been sidelined or might be absent from Wednesday's encounter.

Goalkeepers & Defenders

Both clubs have suffered significantly from disciplinary actions, with three players receiving red cards during their respective quarterfinal victories.

PSG ultimately finished with nine players in their triumph over Bayern Munich, despite Désiré Doué finding the net first before Willian Pacho was dismissed for a harsh tackle on Leon Goretzka. The Ecuador defender has been crucial for Luis Enrique throughout this competition and is likely to be substituted by Lucas Beraldo in the backline.

Lucas Hernández has provided backup for Nuno Mendes during the tournament, but the French player is also ruled out for the semifinal following his ejection for striking Raphaël Guerreiro with an errant elbow.

Dean Huijsen's offense that resulted in his red card during injury time against Borussia Dortmund showed less intent, but the Spanish defender's choice to foul Serhou Guirassy, who subsequently converted the penalty, was foolish with Madrid leading 3–1. Huijsen has performed admirably in the tournament, but he'll be absent against PSG at MetLife. Raúl Asencio is expected to earn his first starting role since Matchday 2.

Xabi Alonso is missing David Alaba and Ferland Mendy due to knee and thigh problems respectively, though Éder Militão has rejoined practice sessions and might be available for action.

Midfielders

PSG maintain full strength in their central areas, with the established trio of Vitinha, João Neves and Fabián Ruiz set to face Alonso's preferred midfield combination of Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler.

Nevertheless, Eduardo Camavinga could make his debut appearance at the 2025 Club World Cup, having missed the conclusion of the 2024–25 campaign with a groin problem. Alonso has emphasized that the French midfielder will play a significant role when completely recovered, but indicated that inclusion in Wednesday's semifinal may be premature.

Forwards

Kylian Mbappé has overcome his illness and has featured as a substitute in Madrid's two knockout wins, leaving Alonso to determine whether to restore the French icon to his starting formation or continue with joint-leading scorer Gonzalo García.

The new Madrid manager might also deploy Endrick for the first occasion, with the young Brazilian returning to practice after overcoming a hamstring problem.

Meanwhile, Ousmané Dembélé netted his inaugural tournament goal to secure PSG's victory over Bayern, but French media reports indicate he'll stay on the substitutes' bench for the semifinal. Dembélé entered the tournament with an injury concern and didn't feature until the round of 16.

Every Player Out of PSG vs. Real Madrid