Real Madrid’s worst international defeats: How does the 4–0 vs PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 compare?

This Wednesday, Real Madrid endured a tough 4–0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Not only did it mean elimination from the tournament, but it also adds a new entry to the list of the Spanish side’s worst defeats in international competitions.

So far, the worst defeat Real Madrid have suffered in international competition was by a five-goal margin, and it has happened twice in their history. The first instance came in the UEFA Cup (the predecessor to the Europa League) in 1982, when they lost 5-0 to Kaiserslautern in the second leg of the quarterfinals—resulting in elimination with a 6-3 aggregate score.

The other case happened in the same decade. In 1989, Los Blancos faced AC Milan in the semifinals of the Champions League (then called the European Cup). After a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Madrid, the decisive match at San Siro ended in a 5-0 thrashing by the Italian side, who would go on to win their third continental title that year.

Beyond those two cases, Real Madrid has also suffered a considerable number of defeats by a four-goal margin. The earliest of these was a 5-1 loss to Benfica in 1956, followed by identical scorelines against Hamburg in 1980 and Borussia Monchengladbach in 1986.

In more recent times, the Spanish giants endured two major setbacks in the Champions League. The first came against Liverpool in the 2008–09 season, when they fell 4-0 at Anfield Road in the Round of 16 and were eliminated with a 5-0 aggregate score. And in 2022–23, it was another English side—Manchester City—that handed them a heavy blow. After a 1-1 draw at Santiago Bernabeu, City won 4-0 at Etihad Stadium.

Real Madrid’s worst international defeats

1- 0-5 vs Kairserlautern (UEFA Cup 1982)

2- 0-5 vs AC Milan (European Cup 1989)

3- 1-5 vs Benfica (European Cup 1965)

4- 1-5 vs Hamburg (European Cup 1980)

5- 1-5 vs Borussia Monchengladbach (UEFA Cup 1986)

6- 0-4 vs Liverpool (Champions League 2009)

7- 0-4 vs Manchester City (Champions League 2023)

8- 0-4 vs PSG (FIFA Club World Cup 2025)

What has been the worst defeat in Real Madrid’s history?

Those 5-0 losses to Kaiserslautern and AC Milan top the list of Real Madrid’s worst defeats in international competition. However, when considering Spanish tournaments as well, the club has suffered even more humiliating losses throughout its history.

The worst defeat Real Madrid have ever suffered came in the 1929–30 season. That year, they finished mid-table in a forgettable campaign but went down in history for an 8-1 loss to Espanyol on March 5, 1930.

That margin of defeat has never been repeated, but Los Blancos have endured other heavy blows in later decades. In 1974, Barcelona handed them their worst-ever loss at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu: a 5-0 thrashing, with Dutch legend Johan Cruyff starring in the match. On two other occasions—1994 and 2011—Barcelona again defeated them 5-0 in El Clasico.