Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal pulled off the biggest shock of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, knocking out European champions Manchester City with a dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory on Monday night in one of the most memorable matches in the competition’s history.
The match finished 2-2 in regulation, but Marcos Leonardo’s extra-time winner sealed a famous result and sent Al-Hilal into the quarter-finals, where they will face Brazil’s Fluminense, ensuring a non-European team will reach the last four.
City opened the scoring early through Bernardo Silva in the 9th minute, following a controversial buildup involving Rayan Aït-Nouri, whose possible handball went unpunished. The Premier League side dominated the first half but failed to capitalise on their chances, as Yassine Bounou delivered a stunning performance in goal for Al-Hilal.
The Saudis punished City’s wastefulness almost immediately after the break. Former City man João Cancelo helped set up the equaliser, with Marcos Leonardo heading in a rebound. Minutes later, Malcom raced onto a Cancelo long ball and fired past Ederson to make it 2-1.
City responded through Erling Haaland, who pounced on a loose ball from a corner to level at 2-2. Guardiola’s side piled on the pressure, but Bounou remained unbeatable, producing key saves from Akanji, Dias, and even denying Haaland with Ali Lajami clearing off the line.
In extra time, Kalidou Koulibaly powered home a header from a Ruben Neves corner to give Al-Hilal the lead again, but Phil Foden pulled City back into it with a brilliant finish from a Rayan Cherki cross.
An emotional Leonardo dedicated the performance to his mother, who had recently been in the ICU:
“She spent 70 days in intensive care. Today she’s fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her.”
Bernardo Silva, speaking after the match, admitted City were undone by Al-Hilal’s devastating counter-attacks.
“It was all about controlling transitions. With one or two passes, they always looked dangerous. When we allow teams to run like this, we suffer, and today was the case.”
The result marks a historic moment for Middle Eastern football and a significant statement from Al-Hilal, who now look ahead to a high-stakes quarter-final against South American champions Fluminense.
