Christopher Martin The FIFA Club World Cup is now just over a week old under its new format. The tournament had plenty of doubters before a ball was kicked in the United States, but the action on the pitch has since generated some magical moments for Argentine players and teams competing.
Both Boca Juniors and River Plate have a chance to qualify for the knockout round, but require a performance of the highest order to maximise their chances and rely less on other results. But even if both Buenos Aires clubs do exit the tournament early, there are plenty of Argentine superstars for fans to lend their support to in the coming weeks.
The spotlight has already shone on a certain Lionel Messi, but many other Argentine players — young and old — are taking their moment to sparkle in the United States. So, without further ado, let the Herald get you up to speed on the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The party in blue and gold
Fans in blue and gold have lit up the United States with singing and dancing almost a permanent fixture around Miami’s streets. The drama and entertainment on the field from Boca Juniors has matched with the fanfare, but the Xeneize currently sit third in their tricky Group.
A lightning start should have seen Boca take all three points against Benfica at the Hard Rock Stadium, but La Seleccion veterans Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi quelled any hopes of a victory.
Not losing that game was the most imperative outcome. Their second match-up saw them up against German champions Bayern Munich. Despite Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane grabbing the opener, Boca fought back. Miguel Merentiel, arguably Boca’s standout player from the tournament so far, sweetly swept past the Bayern defense, before expertly slotting past a stranded Manuel Neuer. But Vincent Kompany’s team were to have the last laugh, with Michael Olise scoring the eventual winner.
Boca’s fans might have been broken-hearted after the game, but the team were revered at the final whistle, fans understanding the achievement of pushing one of Europe’s elite teams to their limit. Kane told reporters after the game that is was “one of the best [atmospheres]” of his career. “They [Bayern fans] tried to help us as much as possible but it was hard with all of the Boca fans there. They made it a special night, they won’t go home happy but it was a great game.”
A win against Auckland City is now a must for Boca if they stand any chance of making it to the knockout stages. The semi-pro New Zealand team, who play in Australia’s A-League, have been the tournament’s ‘whipping boys’, and have so far conceded a whopping ten goals against Bayern, and a further six against Benfica. Miguel Ángel Russo’s men must win over Auckland and hope that Benfica lose to Bayern to qualify.
River on the brink of the next round
From one side of the Superclásico to the other, as Boca’s arch rivals River Plate have taken four points in the tournament so far. It began with a 3-1 win against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds that saw Los Millonarios in the driving seat for qualification, with Franco Colidio, Sebastián Driussi and Maximiliano Meza all finding the net on Tuesday.
But, a boring affair against Mexico’s Monterrey saw River fail to find the net, a problem that’s haunted the team regularly over the past 18 months domestically and in the Copa Libertadores. They tentatively finished the game with ten players on the pitch, the match finishing a drab 0-0.
At present, River are atop the group, but qualification for the next round is not secured and their final group game is against the might of 2025 UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan. However, a draw in Seattle will be enough to see them qualify.
Messi and Argentina’s stars hit the goals
Lionel Messi took the plaudits for Inter Miami as his side overcame Portuguese giants FC Porto. His free-kick midway through the second half that lofted over the wall and into the back of the net generated a variety of moods and emotions for those watching.
The nostalgic football fan has watched him win games on his own for his team like this on countless occasions, whether it be for Barcelona or for La Selección. But he has an uncanny ability to reinvent himself to stay essential with such subtlety on the world stage, reminding us all that he is still the greatest player to grace the game over the past two decades. His Inter Miami team will face three-time Copa Libertadores winners Palmeiras of Brazil on Tuesday, knowing that a draw will be enough to see them through the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, other players from Argentina’s national team have been amongst the goals so far in the tournament. Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi both scored for Benfica as they came back to draw with Boca Juniors. The former, in his final outing for the Portuguese team before he rejoins boyhood club Rosario Central, then scored twice in their 6-0 thrashing of Auckland City. Surprisingly, he is the current joint top scorer of the tournament.
Lautaro Martínez of Inter Milan scored in his team’s opener against Monterrey. He then followed it up with another goal against Urawa Reds, with young Argentine Valentín Carboni expertly scoring a 92nd minute winner to take all three points for the Italians.
Elsewhere, Enzo Fernández scored the second in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over LAFC. Two Brazilian based Argentine players Juan Pablo Freytes and José Manuel López of Palmeiras and Fluminese have also found the net in the tournament.