In a stunning FIFA Club World Cup encounter, Al-Hilal stunned Manchester City 4-3 in extra time. Find out how the Saudi giants recorded one of the tournament’s greatest upsets.
Al-Hilal 4-3 Manchester City: The Night the Giants Fell
In what has to be called an earthquake in football terms, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal sent defending European champions Manchester City packing from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 with a 4-3 victory after extra time in an electrifying game that will be talked about for years.
Hosted at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, the Round of 16 match appeared like a mere formality for Pep Guardiola’s team—until Al-Hilal turned the tables.
A Start Full of Controversy
The match started as it was supposed to, with Bernardo Silva giving City the lead in the 9th minute—albeit one that was shrouded in controversy. Replays indicated a potential handball in the lead-up, but VAR saw fit to let it stand, and the stage was set for a night of drama.
Instead of collapsing, Al-Hilal came storming back with purpose, displaying a combination of poise, tactical acumen, and sheer resolve.
Marcos Leonardo: The New Giant Slayer
In a matter of minutes into the second half, Marcos Leonardo—the 21-year-old Brazilian marvel—battered home the equalizer (46′), sending shockwaves through City’s bench. Malcom scored a second goal for Santos in the 52nd minute, exploiting a rare defensive blunder by Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.
City responded swiftly, with Erling Haaland putting City 2-2 (55′), but the momentum of the game had already changed.
Bounou the Wall, Guardiola Outfoxed
With each ticking minute, Al-Hilal’s Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou elevated himself to legendary status, turning away Manchester City’s firepower with nerves of steel. A series of City attacks—close-range attempts by Foden and De Bruyne—were repelled by Bounou’s anticipation and reaction. He finished the night with 10 saves, most of them international standard.
Pep Guardiola looked increasingly agitated on the touchline. Despite deploying his most attacking lineup, City lacked the fluidity and sharpness that made them treble winners just a year ago.
Extra Time Madness: A Seismic Upset
As the match went into extra time, the intensity didn’t let up. Kalidou Koulibaly headed Al-Hilal back in front (94′), with Phil Foden leveling the score once more (104′), but it would be Marcos Leonardo who had the last laugh.
In the 112th minute, he took advantage of a defensive mistake and curled in a spectacular winner, leaving the Al-Hilal bench in ecstasy.
Manchester City Crash Out — Now What
For Manchester City, the defeat is a massive blow to their ambitions on the world stage. Not only did they lose out early in a competition they would be favored to win, but they also forwent almost £10 million in prize money.
More seriously, the loss casts new doubts over their ability to hold up at the back when pushed to the limit, and how dependent they are on a small number of superstars.
SportSnip Analysis: Why This Result Matters
This is not an upset—it’s a statement. Al-Hilal did not stumble into this; they outplayed, outran, and outmaneuvered one of the greatest club teams in football history.
With huge Saudi investment in players and facilities, Al-Hilal’s victory is a portent of the realigning football power balance. The era of Europe’s monopoly on club success is perhaps ending.
Meanwhile, Manchester City must regroup swiftly and refocus their energy before the wounds of this stunning defeat deepen further. Pep Guardiola will be calling for answers, but if one thing was demonstrated in this game, it’s that no team is invincible anymore.
What’s Next?
Al-Hilal now progresses to play Fluminense in the quarter-finals—a tie now seemingly an absolute necessity to watch.
Manchester City comes back home to prepare for the Premier League opener, with the focus squarely on their weaknesses.