In one of the most thrilling nights of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the 1-1 draw between Real Madrid and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal wasn’t just another result — it was marked by a last-minute decision that changed everything.
The match, held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, witnessed the official debut of Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid’s manager. The tension was evident, and the performance fell short of expectations, especially in a first half dominated relatively by the Saudi side, which resulted in an early penalty goal converted by Rúben Neves after a foul inside the box.
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Despite the presence of big names like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Vinícius Jr., and Jude Bellingham, the Spanish side looked lost in the Miami heat. As the second half kicked off, substitutions were made, and young Turkish star Arda Güler entered the pitch, immediately igniting the match with a powerful shot that nearly equalized. Minutes later, Gonzalo García did manage to level the score after a brilliant team play.
The game reached its peak in the 90th minute when VAR awarded a penalty to Real Madrid following a handball by Mohammed Al-Qahtani. The crowd erupted, and all eyes turned toward the player who would take the shot…
But then — the unexpected happened.
Just when everyone thought a particular name would step up from behind the scenes… something entirely surprising unfolded. 🕵️♂️
Uruguayan star Federico Valverde suddenly emerged and took charge of the spot-kick. He struck the ball confidently — but Yassine Bounou was ready, diving the right way and making a stunning save to secure a valuable point for Al Hilal.
But the story didn’t end there.
After the final whistle, Luka Modrić stunned reporters with a revealing statement:
“Arda was supposed to take the penalty… we had agreed on it earlier, but he wasn’t given the chance. Everything changed all of a sudden.”
Those words sparked a wave of questions within the Real Madrid camp:
Who made the decision to change the taker?
Why wasn’t the original plan followed?
Is there a crisis in the team’s internal hierarchy?
Arda Güler, who was the standout performer in the second half, was seen visibly frustrated on the sidelines but declined to comment.
As for Valverde, he took full responsibility:
“I felt like I could finish it and help the team. It was a rush of emotion… and I’ll take the blame.”
Fans were divided — some admired the initiative, while others saw it as a breach of Alonso’s new system, especially with Modrić potentially leaving the club and rumors of a move to AC Milan swirling.
For Al Hilal, the draw was a strong statement: the team is no longer a secondary presence, and Bounou, in particular, proved he’s one of the tournament’s standout goalkeepers.
What happened in Miami won’t be forgotten easily… and it might just be the beginning of a deeper series of events inside Real Madrid’s locker room — events that started with a penalty… but may lead to something far more profound.
