In one of the most shocking results in FIFA Club World Cup history, Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al Hilal knocked defending champions Manchester City out of the tournament with a thrilling 4-3 victory after extra time. The victory not only sends the European champions packing but also marks a historic milestone. Al Hilal are now the first Asian club to defeat a European team in the competition’s history.
City Entered as Favourites, Hilal Wrote History
Manchester City arrived at the 2025 Club World Cup looking like a team on a mission. After a trophyless domestic season, Pep Guardiola’s side came into the tournament firing on all cylinders, finishing the group stage with a perfect record and 13 goals scored. Many saw them as favourites to retain the title.
Al Hilal, meanwhile, came through as second in Group H and had already made a statement by holding Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw. Led by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, the squad featured several former European stars, including João Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Ruben Neves, and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Guardiola named a strong starting XI, with Ederson in goal and a backline of Aït-Nouri, Gvardiol, Rúben Dias, and Nuno Mendes. The midfield was anchored by Ilkay Gündogan, Tijjani Reijnders, and Bernardo Silva, while Savinho and Jérémy Doku supported Erling Haaland up front.
City struck first in the 9th minute. Reijnders found Aït-Nouri out wide, whose low cross was converted by Bernardo Silva. Despite protests from Hilal players for a possible handball in the buildup, the goal stood, and City took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Hilal Turn the Game Around in the Second Half
The lead didn’t last long after the break. Just a minute into the second half, Malcolm set up Cancelo for a cross that caused chaos in the box. Leonardo rose above the defenders to head in the equaliser.
Then came a moment of brilliance. A City corner was cleared, and Malcolm picked up the loose ball. With blistering pace, he sprinted 60 yards and beat Ederson one-on-one to give Al Hilal a stunning 2-1 lead.
City responded with urgency. Guardiola introduced Rodri, Nathan Aké, and Manuel Akanji, and it paid off almost instantly. In the 55th minute, a Bernardo Silva corner led to a scramble, and Haaland smashed the ball into the net to level the match at 2-2.
Despite relentless pressure from City late in the game, including a point-blank save by Bounou on Haaland, the match went to extra time.
In the 94th minute, Ruben Neves swung in a corner, and Koulibaly soared above the defence to head Hilal back in front, 3-2. City was not done yet. Substitute Phil Foden struck in the 104th minute to make it 3-3, setting up a dramatic finale.
But the night belonged to Leonardo. In the 112th minute, Milinković-Savić’s header was saved by Ederson, but Leonardo reacted first to tuck in the rebound and seal a famous 4-3 win.
Inzaghi’s Redemption, Europe’s Nightmare
The victory was delightful for Simone Inzaghi, who avenged his 2023 UEFA Champions League final defeat to Guardiola’s City. Ironically, Inzaghi’s former team, Inter Milan, were also knocked out of the tournament earlier that day, falling 2-0 to Brazil’s Fluminense.
With City and Inter both eliminated on the same day, the Club World Cup saw two European giants crash out, underscoring the growing competitiveness of clubs from other continents.
Al Hilal now move on to face Fluminense in the quarterfinals. For City, the dream of back-to-back world titles is over, and for Asian football, a new era may have just begun.
