Man City's Club World Cup exit gets eyebrow-raising response from FIFA president

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hailed Al-Hilal's victory over Manchester City at theClub World Cup as the beginning of a 'new era'. City came into the last-16 clash as firm favourites but lost 4-3 after extra-time, having found themselves trailing the Saudi Arabian side twice in normal time.

Pep Guardiola's men looked on course to reach the quarter-finals after Bernardo Silva's ninth-minute opener gave them the lead at half-time. But two quick-fire goals from Al-Hilal turned the tie on its head, only for Erling Haaland to equalise before the hour mark.

Kalidou Koulibaly put Al-Hilal back in front during the first half of extra-time before Phil Foden drew City level once again. Eventually, the game was decided by Marcos Leonardo's 112th-minute strike.

After full-time, Infantino wrote on his personal Instagram account: "The NEW ERA OF CLUB FOOTBALL has definitely started. A game to remember sees Al-Hilal record a famous win against Manchester City in Orlando to reach the Quarter-Finals of the FIFA Club World Cup: truly a global competition."

The FIFA president's statement raised eyebrows, with Saudi Arabia considered one of the weaker leagues to participate in the Club World Cup. Piers Morgan seems to agree, though, posting on X, formerly Twitter: "People laughed when [Cristiano] Ronaldo said the Saudi League would soon be in the world's Top4…"

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Indeed Ronaldo has been vocal about the Saudi Pro League's chances of breaking into the world's elite bracket, having moved there in 2023. After signing a new contract with Al-Nassr last week, the Manchester United legend reiterated his stance and claims that people who don't view Saudi as a top-five league 'don't understand anything about football'.

"We're still improving, but I believe that in this moment we're in [the] top five [leagues in the world ] already," Ronaldo proclaimed. "But I still believe that we continue to improve, and we have time - and we show the last two and a half years that the league is going up all the time.

"I'm happy because I know the league is very competitive. Only people who have never played in Saudi, they don't understand anything about football and say this league is not in the top five. I believe 100 percent in my words and the people who play in this league know what I'm talking about.

Is the Saudi Pro League in the world's top five? Have your say in the comments section.

"This is why I want to stay, because I believe in the project, not [only] the next two years, but until 2034, which is the goal and will be the [FIFA] World Cup in Saudi Arabia - which I believe will be the most beautiful one ever.

"So I'm happy for two more years. I want to fight with the best teams in Saudi to win the league. I believe [in that] and it's better to let's see at the end of the day."

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