One of the favourites to win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Manchester City, have been shockingly knocked out by Al Hilal in the Round of 16.
Man City were the overwhelming favourites heading into their Round of 16 tie against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on Monday, June 30. They also landed the first blow rather swiftly, going 1-0 up in the ninth minute. Bernardo Silva applied the finishing touch to Ilkay Gundogan’s layoff.
Al Hilal, however, refused to roll over. A minute into the second half, Marcos Leonardo levelled the score for the underdogs. Six minutes later, Malcom fired them into the lead. The Saudi Pro League outfit, however, did not lead for long, as Erling Haaland equalised just three minutes later. With 35 minutes still to play, Man City were expected to get the winning goal, but the breakthrough did not arrive.
🚨💙 Al Hilal eliminate Man City from the FIFA Club World Cup! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/f0pdVTfJly
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 1, 2025
Three minutes into extra time, former Premier League defender Kalidou Koulibaly made it 3-2 for Al Hilal. Substitute Phil Foden kept City in the game with a tidy finish in the 104th minute, but Al Hilal were not settling for penalties. In the 112th minute, Leonardo beat Ederson for the second time on the night, sending Al Hilal 4-3 up. Pep Guardiola’s side failed to come up with an answer and succumbed to a 4-3 defeat.
Manchester City Brutally Mocked After Losing 4-3 to Al Hilal in Club World Cup
Man City have an estimated valuation of over $1 billion, having pulled some of the most expensive signings in Premier League history. Understandably, fans expected Pep Guardiola to take them deep into the Club World Cup, but $187 million Al Hilal had other ideas.
In the aftermath of their shock Club World Cup exit, Man City have been receiving heavy criticism on social media. From Manchester United fanboys to Cristiano Ronaldo worshipper, Man City’s comment section was fruity to say the least.
Man Utd fan @themisterbeat wrote:
“You will never be Manchester United.”
You will never be Manchester United.
— Mr Beat 🐐 (@themisterbeat) July 1, 2025
@Savsafc, seemingly a Cristiano Ronaldo fan, hyped up the competitiveness in the Saudi Pro League.
Let’s all laugh at man city, such a loser 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 this is what Ronaldo faces in Saudi bro
— S Λ V S (@Savsafc) July 1, 2025
@ronaldowarrior doubled down, tweeting:
“Al Hilal just knocked out Man City, the treble winners from the Club world cup. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s out there competing with them week in, week out and people still question his numbers. Y’all need to put some respect on the Saudi league”
Al Hilal just knocked out Man City, the treble winners from the Club world cup. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s out there competing with them week in, week out and people still question his numbers. Y’all need to put some respect on the Saudi league 👍🏾
— RW 🇸🇪 (@ronaldowarrior) July 1, 2025
@deftony83 mocked City’s spending and backed Liverpool to defend their Premier League title in 2025/26.
“How much money you all spent on players??
200 M ??
Camel League Team beat you down … that’s a tough pill to swallow and for the looks of it … Liverpool will get back to back prem”
How much money you all spent on players??
200 M ??
Camel League Team beat you down … that’s a tough pill to swallow and for the looks of it … Liverpool will get back to back prem
— CharliΞ (@deftony83) July 1, 2025
@yuga69x ridiculed Man City and Erling Haaland by dropping a callback to the Norwegian’s comment towards Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Stay humble eh pic.twitter.com/T4h7iKz2jc
— yuga (@yuga69x) July 1, 2025
Real Madrid fan, @MayankRMFC, targeted Man City midfielder Rodri, who hit out at Cristiano Ronaldo after winning the Ballon d’Or.
Lets all laugh at Rodri and Manchester City 😂😂😂😂😂😭😂😭😂😂😭😂😭😭😭😂😭😂😂😭😂😭😭😂😂😂😭😂😂😭😂😭😭😭😂😂😭😂😭😂😂😭😂😭😂😭😂😂😭😂😭😂😂😭😂😂😭😂😂😭😂😭😭😭😭😭😂😂😭😂😂😭😭😂😂😭😂😂😭😂😂😭😂😂😭😂 pic.twitter.com/vMOXrjxteP
— Mayank (@MayankRMFC) July 1, 2025
@japtejghura hailed Simone Inzaghi for guiding Al Hilal to a win against Man City. Inzaghi left Inter Milan, who lost to Fluminense earlier on Monday, to take charge of the Saudi club.
Inter lose to Fluminense whilst Simone Inzaghi takes Al Hilal to victory over Man City.
I wonder if there’s ever been a day of football that highlights one manager’s quality such as this…..
— Japtej Ghura (@japtejghura) July 1, 2025
Manchester City fan page, @mancityfever2, pinned the blame on Ederson after he conceded four goals from six shots on target.
“3 shots on target, 3 goals conceded. Sorry Ederson but I can’t defend you anymore”
3 shots on target, 3 goals conceded. Sorry Ederson but I can't defend you anymore pic.twitter.com/11eIv3Reh8
— mancity.fever (@mancityfever2) July 1, 2025
Pep Guardiola has taken Man City to unimaginable heights since taking charge. However, according to @10blended, the club must sack the legendary manager to return to winning ways.
Man City will never prosper again as long as Pep, Ederson, Bernardo and Gündogan are there
— ✍️ 🇦🇱 (@10blended) July 1, 2025
@IyawoChelsea, whose team are likely to face Al Hilal in the semi-finals, took a shot at Man City, tweeting:
“Man City signed 100 new players for this tournament and still couldn’t reach Quarter-finals
They are so washed”
Man City signed 100 new players for this tournament and still couldn’t reach Quarter-finals
They are so washed 🤣🤣
— 𝐍𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐞𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚 (@IyawoChelsea) July 1, 2025
After their brutal Club World Cup exit, Man City players will aim to rest and recover. They will hope the upcoming Premier League season does not prove to be as challenging.
