مدير عام كرة القدم
What makes a great game? Is it the personnel? The teams involved? What’s on the line? Or is it the drama and jeopardy of it all? You can make a case either way. A 4-4 between two mid-table الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز teams, for example, might be far more compelling than a 2-0 win in a Champions League final, even if the winner of the latter lifts a trophy.
It really depends on your taste. And over the course of the Club World Cup, there’s been a fine mix of everything. There have been some quality group stage games that didn’t mean anything. There have been some seismic upsets. There have been games that are important, but might ultimately be remembered for the wrong reasons. And perhaps that’s what’s most important in a month-long tournament: a good mix of compelling stuff to reflect on.
BALLGM U.S. does just that, putting together a ranking of the seven best teams of the 2025 Club World Cup…
What makes a great game? Is it the personnel? The teams involved? What’s on the line? Or is it the drama and jeopardy of it all? You can make a case either way. A 4-4 between two mid-table Premier League teams, for example, might be far more compelling than a 2-0 win in a Champions League final, even if the winner of the latter lifts a trophy.
It really depends on your taste. And over the course of the Club World Cup, there’s been a fine mix of everything. There have been some quality group stage games that didn’t mean anything. There have been some seismic upsets. There have been games that are important, but might ultimately be remembered for the wrong reasons. And perhaps that’s what’s most important in a month-long tournament: a good mix of compelling stuff to reflect on.
BALLGM U.S. does just that, putting together a ranking of the seven best teams of the 2025 Club World Cup…
,
Hope you were locked in. Benfica-Chelsea wasn’t a magnificent spectacle. It didn’t make for awesome viewing. But it did highlight the biggest issue with this tournament: the weather. Delays interrupted play and left a gaping two-hour gap in proceedings. Chelsea ran out 4-1 winners in extra time after hitting a new level of quality – a result that kickstarted their run to the final. However, this one will likely be remembered as the game that made everyone start thinking about the forecast.
Everyone made all of the right noises about South American fans. They were fun. They were good to watch. They were loud. But the teams were a bit of a mixed bag – especially the Argentines. Bayern-Boca, though, gave a brief glimpse of clarity into how an Argentine side could really push a European one. Here was a contrast of styles: one team trying to play too much football, and another determined to not let them play any whatsoever. Put simply: Boca tried to kick the living sh*t out of Bayern. And it oh so nearly worked, with Bayern nicking a 2-1 win. Almost glorious.
Sometimes, batterings are the best games. ريال مدريد were never in this one, but it was a fixture that showed, exactly, just how dominant PSG are. They scored three in the first half, and spent the second basically conserving energy – even if manager Luis Enrique insisted otherwise. Madrid fans, look away, but this was a near-perfect performance from the Parisians.
What team Mamelodi Sundowns are. “The Brazilians” from South Africa were earmarked by many as a side to watch at the CWC. Quick, fun to watch, and full of attacking verve, it was promised that they would put on a show. And against Dortmund, they came close to springing one of the better upsets of the tournament. They were ruthless on the break, scored three really lovely goals, and deserved the win. Then, Jobe Bellingham took over, scoring and assisting to carry the German side to a 4-3 victory. There’s something in those Bellingham genes, eh?
,
There is still magic in Messi’s boots. Every time he steps up to take a free kick, stadiums fall into an expectant hush, awaiting whatever fireworks are to follow. And against Porto, he delivered, curling home a wonderful effort to put Miami 2-1 ahead. The win was MLS’s first victory ever over a European team in a competitive fixture – and it was entirely deserved. The Herons scored two wonderful goals and defended resolutely from there on out. The victory, too, gave them a spot in the last 16.
How about eight excellent goals and a game that turned out not to really matter? To be fair, not many were watching Al Ahly-Porto. The real event kicked off at the same time, thousands of miles to the south, where Inter Miami were taking on Palmeiras. One of those teams had to lose for either Porto or Al Ahly to sneak into the knockouts. In the end, that one finished in a compelling 2-2 draw.
Neither side here was to know that, of course, and then played as such. Porto went up. Al Ahly punched back, and looked to have it wrapped up, 4-3 as time wore down. And then, in the 89th minute, Pepe strode forward and smashed home. Neither side went through, but what a game this was – at least, for those who watched.
Which other game could it have really been? The Club World Cup needed its famous upset – the one that still might be mentioned in a few years’ time. And here you have it. Al Hilal are a good side, but nowhere near the level of Man City, who have ritually ruined the Premier League for a decade. City took the lead inside nine minutes, and that really should have been it. But Al Hilal fought back, played some wonderful attacking football, and with the help of Barcelona reject Malcom and Chelsea reject Kalidou Koulibaly, ran out 4-3 winners in extra time. A corner flag was snapped somewhere in there, and Pep Guardiola just looked sad. Wonderful content.
