What have we learned from the second tranche of matches in the 2025 Club World Cup?
Well, we found out that Lionel Messi still has the capacity to deliver special moments, that South America’s finest can still mix it with the best and that amateur club Auckland City still should not be subjected to meetings against leading European clubs.
Let’s begin with the latter, many of whom are part-timers who had to take time off work just to make the trip to the US and whose players receive only a modest weekly allowance of around $90 for basic expenses.
This is a team which includes a primary school teacher, an insurance broker, a barber, a sales representative at Coca-Cola, a car retailer and several students, one of which, left-back Nathan Lobo, had to sit a university exam from his hotel room during the competition.
After being hit for 10 by Bavarian giants Bayern Munich, the New Zealanders managed to keep the scoreline down to six without reply against one of Portugal’s finest in Benfica.
Two Angel Di Maria penalties bookended the rout and the fact the opener arrived deep in first half stoppage time showed how well the underdogs had done initially.
Yet once the goal went in and the half-time break came – and lasted more than two hours due to thunderstorms – the floodgates opened.
Vangelis Pavlidis scored eight minutes into the second half and, as Auckland visibly tired, Benfica scored four more goals, starting with a deflected effort from Renato Sanches.
Leandro Barreiro scored twice from close range and Di Maria added a second penalty.
Auckland had actually kept Benfica out for 53 minutes and had four chances themselves – but in the end they could not cope with the fitness of the Portuguese pros.
Last week, I admitted to being excited by clashes between the South American and European big boys and the meeting in Philadelphia between Flamengo and Chelsea did not disappoint.
The west Londoners, on a different financial playing field to their illustrious Brazilian opponents, opened the scoring through an early Pedro Neto goal and appeared to be in charge.
But Flamengo turned the match on its head after the break as substitute Bruno Henrique and veteran Danilo struck within four minutes to turn the game around.
Nicolas Jackson was sent off for Chelsea two minutes later before sub Wallace Yan rubbed salt in the wounds by adding Flamengo’s third.
The result was a triumph for former Chelsea full back Filipe Luis, now boss of Flamengo, who are top of the Brazilian league and played with more balance and imagination.
Wesley flew forward from right-back and Gerson was outstanding in attacking midfield. Gonzalo Plata finished with two assists and Jorginho, the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder, pulled the strings with his clever switches of play from deep.
The South American sides are not to be underestimated.
That was also proven when Botafogo made history by seeing off European champions Paris St Germain at the Rose Bowl.
The current champions of the Libertadores are no mugs but were not expected to triumph against the Parisiens who were coming off a streak of six consecutive wins, including a 5-0 success in the Champions League final and a 4-0 triumph over Atletico Madrid in their tournament opener.
Moreover, since 2012, when Corinthians beat Chelsea in Japan and won that year’s Club World Cup, no South American team had beaten a European side but Igor Jesus changed all that with the only goal of the game.
The final word goes to a club from a host nation who came from behind to see off FC Porto.
Lionel Messi netted his 50th goal for Inter Miami as they defeated FC Porto who had taken an early lead when Samu Aghehowa squeezed a penalty under the arm of goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Martin Anselmi’s side could have been further clear by half-time but Francesco Moura saw a shot cleared off the line and Alan Varela struck the post.
Telasco Segovia sparked the Inter Miami comeback when he powered a Marcelo Weigandt cut-back into the top corner.
Inspired by Messi, the Argentina captain then sealed the MLS franchise’s maiden victory in the competition with a trademark free-kick over the wall and out of reach for a sprawling Claudio Ramos.
It was his 68th career goal from a free kick and one which is bound to figure high up on any compilation of Club World Cup 2025 highlights.
The MLS may not provide the same level of competition as Europe’s big five leagues but Messi, who now has 50 goals in 61 appearances for the club, showed the world he still has plenty left in the tank to dazzle the crowds when up against strong European opposition.
With another round of group matches remaining, make sure to check out the SBOTOP Club World Cup 2025 betting odds – there’ll soon be no margin for error for those remaining.
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