Al Hilal Turns Tables on Manchester City in FIFA Club World Cup Classic
If you turned off the TV when Manchester City were ahead, you missed a wild one. On June 30, 2025, under the floodlights in Orlando, Al Hilal pulled off the kind of win that shakes up the football world. They beat City 4-3 in extra time, sending jaws to the floor and themselves to the quarter-finals. For once, it wasn’t a Champions League night stealing headlines, but a Saudi club outgunning the kings of Europe.
The game had everything: frantic attacking, desperate defending, and enough moments to fill the highlight reels for weeks. Erling Haaland got his goal, Phil Foden did what he does best, yet it was Al Hilal’s Marcos Leonardo who stole the show—twice. And his extra-time strike, a poacher’s finish, was just the last chapter in a match nobody saw playing out this way.
Thrills, Spills, and a Saudi Statement
From the start, there was no sign Al Hilal would show City too much respect. After the English champions drew first blood with Haaland’s close-range finish, the Saudi Pro League winners fought back. Ruben Neves drilled in a rocket from distance, Malcom drove at City’s defense like a man possessed, and Marcos Leonardo pounced on every half-chance. Both sides carved open opportunities, testing each other’s keepers. Al Hilal’s Borto became a hero in the first half with a full-stretch, heart-stopping goal-line clearance—narrowly denying what looked like a certain goal.
The game never slowed down. Foden’s skill put City ahead again, but Al Hilal refused to break, turning the contest into a slugfest. Neves was everywhere, bossing midfield battles and breaking up play. Malcom’s runs forced City’s backline into mistakes. When Leonardo scored his first to even the score, you could feel the momentum swing.
As the match wore on, both managers rolled the dice. City pressed harder but nearly paid for their ambition as Al Hilal launched wave after wave of counterattacks. There were swings, last-ditch tackles, and missed big chances at both ends. Extra time came with tired legs and nerves frayed. Then, with a flash of instinct, Leonardo claimed his second—right as the clock threatened penalties. Orlando erupted. The Saudi fans made themselves heard, aware they’d just watched their club take down Europe’s finest.
For City, the loss was a gut punch. Their stars, from Haaland to Foden, gave their all but were left stunned. Al Hilal’s players huddled together at the end, soaking in what’s easily their most famous night in years. For anyone doubting the rise of Saudi football—this was the game that demanded your attention.
