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The biggest winners of the FIFA Club World Cup
The first expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States promised spectacle, but few expected such a sweeping shift in the footballing landscape.
From a South American resurgence to Saudi legitimacy, and from a teenage star at Real Madrid to Lionel Messi still deciding games at 38, the month-long tournament delivered in ways few could’ve imagined.
Here are the seven biggest winners from a competition that has more than lived up to its billing.
Al-Hilal: The Billion-Dollar Project Pays Off
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The Saudi Pro League’s reputation has been viewed with suspicion since the wave of big-money signings began, but Al-Hilal came to America with a point to prove, and they proved it emphatically.
They earned global respect with a gritty 1-1 draw against Real Madrid and a sensational 4-3 extra-time win over Manchester City in the Round of 16.
They ultimately fell to Fluminense in the quarter-finals, but their performances vindicated the club’s heavy investment and helped turn the Saudi Pro League into something that demands to be taken seriously.
Brazilian Football: Back on the Global Stage
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Four Brazilian sides reached the knockout rounds – Botafogo, Flamengo, Palmeiras and the surprise package, Fluminense, who made it all the way to the semi-finals.
Flamengo topped their group ahead of Chelsea, while Palmeiras edged Botafogo in a tight domestic last-16 clash.
Fluminense’s energetic and fearless style lit up the tournament as they beat Al-Hilal before finally falling 2–0 to Chelsea.
For a country whose club scene had been largely overlooked on the global stage, this tournament marked a turning point. Brazilian football isn’t just surviving – it’s thriving, with both style and substance.
Gonzalo García: Real Madrid’s New Star
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With Kylian Mbappe ruled out due to illness, few expected Real Madrid’s attacking threat to come from an unproven 20-year-old. Gonzalo García seized the opportunity spectacularly.
He scored in the draw with Al-Hilal, added another against Pachuca and delivered the decisive goal in the last-16 win over Juventus. His total of four goals made him one of the tournament’s joint top scorers.
Though Madrid were humiliated 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final, Garcia’s emergence offered hope for the future. Madrid might not have left with a trophy, but they may have found their next great No. 9.
Inter Miami: Messi’s Last Dance is Still Glorious
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Drawn into a group with Palmeiras, Porto and Al Ahly, Inter Miami were supposed to be outclassed. Instead, Lionel Messi dragged them into the knockouts with one goal and one assist in a decisive 2-2 draw with Palmeiras.
At 38, he still ran games with ease. Though PSG dispatched Miami 4-0 in the round of 16, their place in the knockouts – along with Messi’s continued brilliance – gave MLS a credibility boost.
Inter Miami weren’t a gimmick. They were a team with purpose, led by a legend still writing his legacy.
Marcos Leonardo: The Risk That Paid Off
Al Hilal
His 2024 move from Benfica to Al-Hilal was labelled a money-grab by some, but Marcos Leonardo proved the doubters wrong at the Club World Cup.
The 22-year-old Brazilian striker scored four goals, including a brace against Manchester City, and was consistently dangerous throughout the tournament.
Against Fluminense, he gave Al-Hilal the lead with a clinical finish. His work rate, movement and composure marked him as more than just a promising forward – he looked like a future superstar.
If anything, his time in Saudi Arabia has made Europe pay even more attention.
Paris Saint-Germain: From Nearly Men to World Beaters
Having finally won their first Champions League title in May, PSG could have coasted. Instead, they turned the Club World Cup into a victory parade with teeth.
They won every match with style and efficiency, capping their run with a ruthless 4-0 dismantling of Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Fabian Ruiz, Ousmane Dembele and Gonçalo Ramos all got on the scoresheet, while the midfield trio of Ruiz, Vitinha and Joao Neves dominated every game they played.
Luis Enrique’s side were no longer fragile favourites – they were clinical and composed. This was the tournament that confirmed their new identity as European football’s power club.
Chelsea: Grit, Goals and Joao Pedro’s Arrival
It wasn’t always pretty, but Chelsea found a way. Their young squad stumbled at times – scraping past Palmeiras and surviving Fluminense in the semi-final – but showed real mettle throughout.
Joao Pedro, their £60 million summer signing from Brighton, announced himself with two stunning goals against former club Fluminense to seal Chelsea’s spot in the final.
The midfield trio of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia showed signs of finally clicking, while Levi Colwill led from the back. They weren’t favourites, but they earned their place in the showpiece game.
Whatever happens in the final, the 2025 Club World Cup has already left its mark. The myth of European invincibility cracked. Young stars emerged. Big gambles paid off. And for the first time in years, the phrase “world champion” might actually mean something again.
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