Al-Hilal climb ‘Mount Everest’ Manchester City and shock world with stunning win at FIFA Club World Cup

DUBAI: Al-Hilal proved once again that few clubs in Asia, or even the world, are capable of hitting seemingly unreachable heights after a stunning 4-3 win against Manchester City in the round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Simone Inzaghi’s team trailed at half-time in Orlando to Bernardo Silva’s opener, but stormed back after the break to take the lead with strikes from Brazilians Marco Leonardo (46 minutes) and Malcolm (52).

Erling Haaland leveled the score minutes later to ensure the match went into extra time. Then Kalidou Koulibaly’s 94th-minute third for Hilal was cancelled by substitute Phil Foden 10 minutes later.

The stage was set for Leonardo to score an emotional winner with 8 minutes left on the clock.

In the aftermath of the victory, Al-Hilal’s official account on X posted a video clip of the players celebrating in the dressing room with club President Fahad bin Nafel.

Celebrating with El Presidente #FIFACWC | Watch free on @daznfootballpic.twitter.com/GY5nFgCqIF

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) July 1, 2025

Al Jazeera commented that “Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal have sent English giants Manchester City crashing out of the Club World Cup, snatching a shock 4-3 victory in extra time in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.”

For “all City’s depth, Al-Hilal had a deep well of spirit to draw upon,” Al Jazeera added, highlighting the Riyadh club’s powers of recovery against one of the world’s best teams.

The BBC reported that the former Premier League champions had been “stunned in extra time by Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal in an incredible seven-goal thriller.” And that Leonardo had delivered a “monumental result for the 2021 AFC Champions League winners.”

In his match report for the UK’s The