Real Madrid took the lead in the 33rd minute thanks to Gonzalo Garcia, who finished off a well-placed assist from Rodrygo. But the advantage was short-lived. Just seven minutes later, Al Hilal drew level through a Ruben Neves penalty following a foul inside the box. The scoreline remained unchanged for the rest of the match, despite late drama.

In the 90th minute, referee Facundo Tello awarded a penalty to Real Madrid after a VAR review. However, Al Hilal goalkeeper Bono came up with a crucial save to deny Federico Valverde and preserve the draw.

Real Madrid will look for their first win on Sunday, June 22, when they take on Pachuca, while Al Hilal will aim for the same as they face RB Salzburg later that day.

Real Madrid will kick off their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Under new manager Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos enter the expanded tournament as one of the clear favorites, aiming to capture a record-extending sixth title in the competition. But they’ll have to begin that quest without their brightest star, Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe has been ruled out for the opening match after missing the final training session due to illness. The club confirmed that the French forward is suffering from a fever, which sidelined him from team preparations just 24 hours before the crucial Group H opener.

Fortunately for Madrid and their fans, the issue is not injury-related, which means he could be back on Matchday 2. However, the 26-year-old began feeling unwell on Tuesday, leading to a precautionary absence from the training session yesterday.

Unfortunately, Mbappe will not even be on the bench today. His absence in Real Madrid’s starting lineup against Al Hilal is a tactical blow for Alonso, who is managing his first official match at the helm of the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid’s group at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Madrid’s Group H features Al Hilal, Mexico’s Club Pachuca, and Austria’s RB Salzburg. After the match in Miami, Real Madrid will travel to face Pachuca on Sunday in Charlotte, before concluding the group stage against Salzburg on June 26 in Philadelphia.

If Madrid win their group, they will face the runner-up from Group G—which includes Manchester City, Juventus, Wydad Casablanca, and Al Ain—in the Round of 16. A potential early knockout showdown with either City or Juventus looms if results align.

Despite the minor uncertainty surrounding Mbappe, Madrid remain heavy favorites to top Group H. But with only three matches determining progression, any disruption, like a tie or a loss, could put them in an unexpectedly difficult position.

Al Hilal may not have signed the biggest names, but they have built a strong and well-balanced team. Their success comes from keeping a solid core while making smart additions. Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Malcom have all played key roles, helping the team stay compact and defensively strong, while also improving its ability to control games.

The 2024–25 season brought more frustration than celebration for Real Madrid, leading to the departure of Carlo Ancelotti. Nevertheless, the arrival of Xabi Alonso as head coach marks the start of a new chapter filled with renewed ambition.

Moreover, the signings of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold reflect a clear shift in direction. As a result, fans remain hopeful for a sixth Club World Cup title. Still, Alonso faces an early challenge, as limited time with the squad may hinder the full implementation of his tactical approach.

Real Madrid confirmed starting lineup

With Real Madrid playing Al Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Xabi Alonso steps into his first tournament with the club facing significant challenges. Despite being the favorites, the team will compete without key players Endrick, Ferland Mendy, and Eduardo Camavinga. Additionally, Kylian Mbappe will miss the game due to a fever.

Considering these factors, Real Madrid will field the following lineup against Al Hilal: Thibaut Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, Fran Garcia; Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham; Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo, Rodrygo Goes.

Al Hilal confirmed starting lineup

Al Hilal enter the tournament fresh off their Saudi Pro League championship but with a shake-up at the helm, as they recently appointed UEFA Champions League finalist Simone Inzaghi as head coach. This change, bold as it may be, arrives on the eve of the Club World Cup, potentially disrupting the team’s rhythm as Inzaghi integrates his tactics.

In terms of lineup considerations, Inzaghi will count on Portuguese fullback Joao Cancelo, who recovered from an injury that sidelined him at the end of the 2024-25 season. Al Hilal will face a significant challenge as they head into their upcoming match without Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is sidelined with a muscle injury. Mitrovic’s absence will be probably felt, given his impressive tally of 19 goals last season.

For this reason, Al Hilal will play as follows against Real Madrid: Yassine Bounou; Hassan Al Tambakti, Kalidou Koulibaly, Renan Lodi, Joao Cancelo; Nasser, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Salem Al-Dawsari; Malcom, Marcos Leonardo.

Much like Messi did after winning multiple titles with Argentina, the 32-year-old winger approached the trophy with playful steps, teasingly feigning to lift it before finally turning to the cameras and hoisting it high.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, skipped the post-match medal ceremony, storming off to the locker room visibly frustrated. The Portuguese star’s anger likely stemmed from his continued struggle to secure his first official title since joining Saudi Arabian football.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s pre-game trophy gesture

Before the match even began, Cristiano Ronaldo found himself at the center of controversy. As the teams lined up, the Portuguese forward approached the trophy and gave it a quick touch—a gesture that some have since interpreted as a jinx or bad omen contributing to the final outcome.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s record at Al-Nassr

Since his arrival at Al-Nassr in early 2023, CR7 has played 66 matches, scoring 60 goals and providing 16 assists, with one red card to his name. However, despite these impressive stats, he has yet to win an official title, with his only silverware being the Arab Club Champions Cup, which isn’t recognized as an official FIFA title.

The 31-year-old has recently taken to social media to hit back at those who have criticized his fitness, as some pictures of the Brazilian during his recovery from a knee injury made it look like he put on some weight.

Ney noticed the comments about his body, which is why he dedicated a message to his critics: “Today’s training session finished. Overweight ok, but fat? I don’t think so (hahaha). S*** it, haters,” he said on an Instagram story.

Neymar is still months away from coming back

Neymar is recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left leg sustained in October, during Brazil’s 2-0 loss to Uruguay in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

That injury kept the Brazilian star from the sidelines since then, and it will make him miss the 2024 Copa America. There is not a return date confirmed for Neymar yet, as his progress will determine his potential availability.

Neymar only got to make five appearances for Al-Hilal before the injury, recording one goal and three assists. The team managed to do well despite his absence, as it leads the Saudi Pro League standings with 53 points, seven clear of Al-Nassr.

Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the score for the Saudi Pro League team 10 minutes into the game, with Abdullah Al-Hamdan making it 2-0 just three minutes later. That led Al-Hilal to feel confident, as even their social media team dared to poke fun at Messi and company.

However, Gerardo Martino’s men never threw in the towel. Luis Suarez pulled one back for the Herons after 34′, capitalizing on a great assist by Julian Gressel to celebrate his first goal in an Inter Miami uniform. The Uruguayan later combined with Messi in a great play, but Leo’s goal was disallowed for offside.

Michael restored the two-goal lead for the Saudi club just before halftime, celebrating his team’s third goal of the night by pulling off Cristiano Ronaldo’s trademark “Siuu” celebration.

Messi scores and assists but Inter Miami lose after he leaves the field

Inter Miami came back stronger in the second half, with Messir scoring a spot-kick to put his side back in the game. The Herons were awarded a penalty after a VAR review due to a foul on David Ruiz. Unsurprisingly, Messi made sure to find the net from the spot with a powerful shot, putting the ball in the top right corner.

That goal seemed to give Inter Miami enough confidence to look for the equalizer, with Ruiz making things level only a minute after Messi’s goal. The 8x Ballon d’Or winner also had a hand in this goal, as he provided the assist for the 19-year-old.

From then on the game was more evenly-matched. But just when it looked like we would be talking about a thrilling draw, Malcom scored the winner for Al-Hilal right after Messi was replaced by Robert Taylor after 88′. 12 minutes earlier, Suarez was subbed off for Leonardo Campana.

With this result, Inter Miami suffered their second straight loss in their 2024 preseason tour and remain winless this year. The MLS side will return to action on Thursday against Al-Nassr, in a highly anticipated friendly as it could see Messi facing Cristiano Ronaldo for the last time.

The Herons didn’t start the match on the right foot, conceding two early goals as the Saudi Pro League team was leading 2-0 less than 15 minutes into the game. After 34′, Suarez reduced the gap to make it a one-goal difference.

The goal was initially disallowed for possible offside, but after VAR review, Suarez and company were allowed to celebrate. It didn’t last long though, as Michael made it 3-1 for Al-Hilal just before the break.

Michael pulls off Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration

Michael gave quite a lot to talk about with his goal against Inter Miami. Only 10 minutes after Suarez put his side just one goal behind, the Brazilian forward restored the two-goal lead for Al-Hilal.

But his goal became even more viral due to his celebration, as he pulled off the “Siuu”, which is Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature goal celebration.

Ronaldo is expected to face Messi on Thursday, when Al-Nassr play Inter Miami as the Riyadh Season Cup goes on. His presence, however, remains unclear as an injury forced his side to cancel two games in China last week.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored the first of the night after 10′, finishing off a great team play as the MLS side was caught off guard at the back. Three minutes later, Abdullah Al-Hamdan extended the difference.

Just like it didn’t take long for their players to take the lead, it didn’t take long for Al-Hilal’s social media team to react to the team’s strong start. “We’ve tried to tell the players to take it easy,” the Saudi club wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Al-Hilal mock Lionel Messi with another tweet

Not only did Al-Hilal poked fun at Inter Miami for their early advantage in the match, but their social media team went on to take a direct jab at Messi just a few minutes later. “It’s ok leo .. you’re not the first one,” the post read.

Messi almost tied the game

With Luis Suarez pulling one back for Inter Miami after 34, Messi came close to making things level for the South Florida team just three minutes after the Uruguayan’s first goal with the Herons.

The former Barcelona duo combined close to Al-Hilal’s box, and the Argentine star capitalized on a mistake by the defense to send the ball in the back of the net. However, it turns out that Suarez was in offside when Messi passed him the ball in the build-up, which is why the goal was disallowed.

After 44, Michael extended Al-Hilal’s lead to make the game 3-1. The Brazilian forward chose to celebrate it in particular style, as he pulled off Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic “Siuu” celebration with Messi on the field.

Neymar had only recently moved to Saudi Arabia to play for new club Al-Hilal, where he only played a handful of matches before his injury. Neymar has now been ruled out for the remainder of the season after transferring for the mega sum of $95 million.

Neymar earns an estimated $1.7 million a week and will earn $107 million per season at the club. Now after surgery it has been reported by The Sun just how long Neymar will be out.

Neymar out for 10 months

Al- Hilal announced that the Brazilian will miss a total of 10 months, putting in doubt if Neymar will return to play for Brazil in the upcoming Copa America in the United States in the summer of 2024.

Al-Hilal, on the other hand will have to make do with Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves, as the team sit top of the Saudi Pro League, four points clear of Al-Nassr.

Neymar only played in 5 matches and scored 1 goal for his new club, who will pay the Brazilian full wages while he recovers.

This transfer would have taken everyone by surprise if it weren’t for all the stars who have previously moved to the Gulf State. Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to shock the world in January 2023, joining Al-Nassr after the World Cup.

Since then, countless world-renowned players have joined the Saudi Pro League. At 31, Neymar will try a new experience in his career after a successful tenure in the Old Continent. Of course, he’ll see plenty of money come his way.

Neymar’s contract at Al-Hilal

According to transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano, PSG received nearly €100 million for Neymar’s transfer to Al-Hilal. The Saudi Arabian club, meanwhile, has reportedly handed the Brazilian a lucrative deal.

How much does Neymar make a week?

Fabrizio Romano claims the winger agreed on a €300m salary package for two years, but it could go up to €400m with add-ons and commercial deals. In that case, Neymar would make €200m per season, which breaks down as follows: €16,666,666 a month; €4,166,666 a week; €595,238 a day; €24,802 an hour; €413 a minute; and €6.9 a second.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the 31-year-old is set to make €300 million on a contract that could go up to €400 million with add-ons and commercial revenue. PSG, meanwhile, would get nearly €100m.

Neymar arrived in the French capital for €222 million in 2017, which is still the most expensive transfer in soccer history. But now he felt it was time to leave, and the winger has already sent a message to his new fans.

Neymar’s first message as Al-Hilal player

“I am here in Saudi Arabia, i am HILALI,” Neymar said in the video of his announcement by the Saudi club. Ney spent nearly a decade in Europe, where he shone for Barcelona and PSG. Now, he’s joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in a league that landed countless stars in 2023.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s farewell message to Neymar

“It is always difficult to say goodbye to an amazing player like Neymar, one of the best players in the world,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi in a club statement. “I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, and what he has contributed to our Club and our project over the last 6 years. We had a great moment and Neymar will always be a big part of our history. I would like to thank Neymar and his family. We wish Neymar all the very best for the future and his next adventure.”

Neymar couldn’t help PSG win the highly desired UEFA Champions League trophy, but he still made great memories at the club. In six years at the Parc des Princes, the Brazilian recorded 118 goals and 70 assists in 173 appearances.