Club World Cup 2025: Seven Matches We’ll Never Forget

Club World Cup drama was in no short supply during the expanded 2025 tournament, and the competition served up a catalogue of thrillers that will live long in the memory. From Lionel Messi conjuring late magic in Miami’s pink to the sight of Kevin De Bruyne floored by a ruthless Al-Hilal counter, fans were treated to upsets, shoot-outs and tactical masterclasses in equal measure. After watching every minute, re-running the decisive moments and crunching the data, we have settled on the seven fixtures that truly defined this year’s showpiece.

How We Ranked the Club World Cup Classics

To sift through dozens of entertaining encounters, we considered four factors: overall entertainment value, stakes, quality of football and historical significance. Group-stage duels had to be exceptional to make the cut, while knockout clashes earned extra credit for tension. The result is a list that balances pure fun with legacy, mirroring the very ethos of the new-look Club World Cup.

1. Inter Miami 3-2 Porto – Messi’s Late-Show Stunner

The tone of the Club World Cup was set early as Inter Miami stunned seasoned European campaigners Porto in Group C. The MLS side roared into a 2-0 lead thanks to quickfire strikes from Luis Suárez and Facundo Farías, only for Porto to claw back parity through Evanilson and Mehdi Taremi. Yet cometh the hour, cometh Lionel Messi. A bending stoppage-time free-kick sent goalkeeper Diogo Costa grasping at thin air and delivered Miami their first ever win in the tournament. Crowd noise levels reportedly hit 118 decibels, and social media almost imploded as the clip went viral.

Key Moment

Messi’s 93rd-minute winner—his 801st career goal—was vintage, underlining why the Argentine remains the competition’s biggest draw.

2. Al-Hilal 2-1 Manchester City – Tactical Brilliance Topples the Champions

No side arrived in the Club World Cup with more swagger than treble-winning Manchester City, but Jorge Jesus’s Al-Hilal executed a perfect game plan. The Saudis sat in a low-mid block, springing forward through Sergej Milinković-Savić and Salem Al-Dawsari. A blistering break saw Neymar square for Aleksandar Mitrović to open the scoring, and after De Bruyne’s equaliser, a late Mitrović header shocked the holders. The sky-blue juggernaut had been halted, proving that tactical discipline can neutralise even the most possession-hungry machine.

3. Paris Saint-Germain 4-4 River Plate – A Goal Rush for the Ages

If pure chaos is your thing, this Group A contest was manna from heaven. PSG’s front line of Kylian Mbappé, Randal Kolo Muani and Marco Asensio produced fireworks, but River’s high press forced the Parisians into repeated errors. Eight goals, two woodwork rattles and a late Franco Armani penalty save later, the final whistle left neutrals gasping. Neither side kept a clean sheet all tournament, a testament to their attacking commitment—and defensive volatility.

4. Real Madrid 3-1 Yokohama F. Marinos – Endrick Arrives on the World Stage

Real Madrid’s pedigree in the Club World Cup is unmatched, yet this quarter-final will be remembered for a new face rather than the club’s history. Brazilian wonderkid Endrick produced a scintillating 25-minute cameo, scoring twice and assisting Jude Bellingham. Yokohama’s high line invited balls in behind, and Endrick’s blistering pace punished them mercilessly. Carlo Ancelotti beamed post-match, declaring the teenager “Madrid’s next galáctico.”

5. Palmeiras 2-2 Chelsea (Palmeiras win 5-4 on pens) – South American Spirit Prevails

The penalty shoot-out is often derided, but it can craft instant folklore. Chelsea appeared in control after goals from Christopher Nkunku and Raheem Sterling, only for Palmeiras to rally through Rony and Raphael Veiga. The Brazilian champions forced extra time, then penalties. Goalkeeper Weverton denied Enzo Fernández with a sprawling stop before burying the winning spot-kick himself. The green half of São Paulo partied through sunrise.

6. Seattle Sounders 5-3 Al Ahly – CONCACAF Meets CAF in a Classic

This Group D shoot-out was a marketer’s dream for the globalised Club World Cup. Jordan Morris grabbed a hat-trick, Nicolás Lodeiro conducted from midfield and newly signed striker Raúl Ruidíaz added gloss. Al Ahly refused to wilt, with Mohamed Sherif’s double ensuring the contest stayed alive until the 88th minute. Eight shots on target each, an xG rating that would make statisticians swoon, and fans at Lumen Field singing well after full-time—this was everything the tournament’s organisers promised.

7. Bayern Munich 1-1 Flamengo (Flamengo win 4-2 on pens) – Neuer vs. Rossi, Nerves vs. Nerve

As tension tightened in the round of 16, Bayern had 68% possession but lacked incision. Flamengo, content to absorb, struck first through Gabriel Barbosa before Jamal Musiala equalised. The spotlight then shifted to the spot-kick duel between Manuel Neuer and Agustín Rossi. Two Neuer saves seemed to tilt the balance, yet Thomas Müller clipped the bar and Alphonso Davies fired wide. Rossi sealed it by stopping Harry Kane, sending Flamengo into delirium and Bayern to an early exit.

Why the Club World Cup Format Works

The 32-team structure, mirroring the FIFA World Cup, was designed to globalise the elite club scene and it delivered. Regional champions faced varied styles, making scouting critical and complacency fatal. Commercially, attendances averaged 57,000, outperforming projections, while streaming numbers on DAZN and other platforms hit record highs. UEFA giants still loom large, but this year’s results prove the gap is narrowing—good news for competitiveness and neutral viewers alike.

Star Performers Across the Tournament

• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) – 4 goals, 3 assists, plus the viral free-kick heard round the world.
• Aleksandar Mitrović (Al-Hilal) – Five goals, two headers in the upset of Manchester City.
• Endrick (Real Madrid) – Two goals, one assist in 25 minutes versus Yokohama F. Marinos.
• Weverton (Palmeiras) – Shoot-out heroics and a converted penalty.
• Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) – Hat-trick to sink Al Ahly.

Matchday Atmosphere: Fans Make the Difference

From drums in Doha to tifos in Tokyo, supporters amplified every moment. Inter Miami’s travelling contingent coated stadium walls in pink, while Flamengo’s rhythmic chants produced a carnival vibe in Atlanta. The Club World Cup might be FIFA’s brainchild, but its heartbeat remains the fan culture that stitches continents together.

The Future of the Club World Cup

FIFA plans minor tweaks—fewer rest days, clearer VAR guidelines—but expect the core 32-team concept to stay. With Africa and Asia pushing Europe harder, and MLS clubs investing heavily, the next edition could be even more unpredictable. For now, these seven fixtures stand as proof that the tournament has already earned its place on the crowded football calendar.

Opinion: Tradition Meets Innovation

The Club World Cup’s critics point to calendar congestion, yet the 2025 edition showcased football’s universal language at its uncompromising best. Seeing Porto undone by Miami or Manchester City humbled by Al-Hilal delivered reminders that money and heritage, while influential, never guarantee victory. It is precisely this blend of tradition and innovation—Messi’s artistry paired with Milinković-Savić’s work rate, historic powerhouses against rising markets—that makes the competition compelling. Long may the unpredictability reign.