Unbelievable. A game that sent us on a wilder rollercoaster ride than anything else you could find in Orlando. Goosebumps all over. Every goal, equalizer, and lead change reminding us what it’s all about. The little guy getting a chance to swing against the giants. Perfection. Truthfully, though, it’s a result that’s been years in the making for Al-Hilal. One of the best teams in the region, consistently. Now, they had their chance to prove it to the world…and they did. A result against Manchester City that delivered seismic shockwaves around the globe, and one that’ll live on for eternity. They could very much book a spot in the Semis and contend for the trophy now. What a story that would be.

Photography by: Peter Bonilla

The summer night heat in Florida was nothing compared to the fire Al Hilal brought to Camping World Stadium on Monday, as the Saudi Arabian side pulled off one of the biggest upsets in FIFA Club World Cup history, defeating European champions Manchester City 4-3 in extra time.

The match had everything: drama, goals, controversy, and a star turn from a 22-year-old Brazilian striker who wore his heart on his sleeve and carved his name into Al Hilal folklore.

Marcos Leonardo, whose mother recently emerged from a 70-day ICU battle, scored twice — including the match-winner in the 112th minute — to cap a seismic shock that reverberated beyond the confines of Orlando.

“We wanted to show our ideas, our talent, our power,” said defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who also got on the scoresheet. “And I think that we made a very good game.”

City, true to recent form, struck early. Bernardo Silva capitalized on a loose clearance in the ninth minute, tapping home to give the English side the lead. Al Hilal protested, claiming a handball by Rayan Aït-Nouri in the buildup, but the referee waved play on.

Yassine Bounou — hero of Morocco’s 2022 World Cup run — kept Al Hilal alive with a string of first-half saves, including sharp stops on Savinho and Ilkay Gundogan. Then, just 44 seconds into the second half, Al Hilal roared to life.

Leonardo leveled the match with a well-placed header, and minutes later, Malcom raced past City’s back line to calmly slot past Ederson and give the Saudi side a stunning lead.

City clawed back through Erling Haaland, whose close-range finish made it 2-2. The Norwegian nearly won it late, but his effort was cleared off the line by a desperate Ali Lajami.

Extra time brought more chaos. Koulibaly powered home a header from a Rúben Neves corner in the 94th minute, only for substitute Phil Foden to level again with a classy first-time volley ten minutes later.

But this night belonged to Leonardo. With eight minutes left in extra time, the forward reacted quickest after Ederson saved Sergej Milinković-Savić’s header, poking home the rebound to seal a historic win for Al Hilal.

“I thought of my mother in that moment,” Leonardo said afterward. “She was able to watch the match. If not for her and my family, I wouldn’t be here today.”

The result ends a 20-match winless run for Asian clubs against European sides in FIFA club competitions and sends Al Hilal into Friday’s quarterfinal against Fluminense. For City, the dream of global dominance meets a premature end — undone by a team brimming with belief and a striker playing for more than just silverware.

“This tournament has its critics,” Koulibaly added, “but tonight we proved why we belong on this stage.”