In a stunning upset at the FIFA Club World Cup, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal shocked defending champions Manchester City with a thrilling 4-3 victory in extra time during the round of 16 match held on June 30, 2025, at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. The match, which ended 2-2 in regulation, saw Al Hilal’s Marcos Leonardo emerge as the hero, scoring twice including the decisive winner deep into extra time, securing one of the biggest shocks in recent football history and advancing his team to the quarterfinals against Brazilian giants Fluminense.
The match started with Manchester City asserting their dominance early, as they have in previous matches of the tournament, with captain Bernardo Silva opening the scoring in the ninth minute. Silva’s goal came after a powerful run and cross by Rayan Ait-Nouri, which was controversially allowed despite protests from Al Hilal players who claimed Ait-Nouri handled the ball in the build-up. A VAR review confirmed the goal stood, much to the frustration of the Saudi side.
Despite City’s early lead and commanding 71.3% possession, Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was a formidable barrier, making several crucial saves denying efforts from City’s Savinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Josko Gvardiol, and Jeremy Doku. Bounou’s reflexes kept the scoreline tight, and Al Hilal’s threat on the counterattack began to materialize, signaling that the Saudi side was far from out of the contest.
The second half exploded into life almost immediately as Marcos Leonardo capitalized on City’s high defensive line. Just 44 seconds after the restart, Leonardo headed in the equalizer following a parried punch from Ederson, City’s goalkeeper. The momentum swung further in Al Hilal’s favor when Brazilian winger Malcom broke through City’s shaky defense six minutes later, coolly slotting past Ederson to give the Saudis a shock 2-1 lead.
Manchester City responded swiftly. Erling Haaland, ever the predator, pounced on a loose ball from a Bernardo Silva corner to level the score at 2-2. The game intensified as both sides traded chances, with City pushing hard for a winner. However, Al Hilal’s defensive resilience shone through, particularly when substitute Ali Lajami produced a magnificent goal-line clearance to deny Haaland near the end of regular time.
Extra time brought more drama. Just four minutes in, Kalidou Koulibaly, the towering Senegalese defender, rose highest to meet a Ruben Neves corner with a perfectly angled header, restoring Al Hilal’s lead and sending their fans into raptures. City, refusing to go quietly, found a moment of brilliance when Phil Foden, marking his 100th goal for City in his 319th appearance, volleyed home a superb finish from a delicate lob by Rayan Cherki to make it 3-3 and keep City’s hopes alive.
But the night belonged to Marcos Leonardo. After Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header was saved by Ederson, Leonardo was quickest to react, bundling the ball over the line to seal a historic 4-3 victory for Al Hilal. The Brazilian striker’s emotional celebration reflected a personal journey; he revealed, “I’ve had a difficult time in the last two months. My mother spent 70 days in the ICU. Today, she’s fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her. She was able to watch the match.”
Al Hilal’s triumph is not just a victory on the pitch but a statement of their rising stature in world football. Under manager Simone Inzaghi, who took charge just days after Inter Milan’s Champions League final defeat, the Saudi club has demonstrated it is no mere media project. With stars like Malcom, Rúben Neves, and Koulibaly leading the charge, Al Hilal has proven it can compete with—and beat—Europe’s elite.
Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola expressed his disappointment but praised his team’s effort: “At this stage, they are all difficult games. We allowed them to create transitions but we created a lot and in general we were good. It’s a pity. We were in such a good place and I cannot say thank you enough to the staff, how they train and prepare, they have given everything. We made a lot of actions and Bounou made incredible saves. Nothing else to say.”
City skipper Bernardo Silva reflected on the reasons behind the defeat, acknowledging the team’s offensive prowess but defensive lapses: “We scored three and could’ve scored five, six. It was all about controlling when we lost the ball, controlling the transitions, don’t let them run, and they ran way too many times. With one, two passes, there was always a feeling of danger coming from them. When we allow teams to run like this, we always suffer a lot, and today was the case.”
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions and tactical battles, with Guardiola’s side making multiple substitutions to try and stabilize their defense and inject fresh legs. Rodri, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Rayan Cherki, and Omar Marmoush were all brought on in an attempt to turn the tide, but Al Hilal’s spirit and tactical discipline prevailed.
This victory ensures a non-European team will feature in the Club World Cup semifinals, a significant moment for global football diversity. Al Hilal’s next challenge will be against Fluminense, the Copa Libertadores champions, promising another thrilling encounter on the road to the title.
For Manchester City, the defeat marks an early exit from the tournament and a chance to regroup ahead of the upcoming domestic season. Guardiola hinted at the need for rest and reflection: “I have the feeling that the team is doing well but we go home and now time to rest and refresh our mind and come back next season.”
As the dust settles on this unforgettable match, Al Hilal’s triumph resonates as a testament to the unpredictable magic of football, where passion, resilience, and belief can topple giants and rewrite history.
