Key South American Players from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group Stage

• Around 20 players returned to the United States following the unforgettable 2024 edition.
• Clutch goals and assists added thrill to the club competition.

The group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 came to a close with exciting games and memorable moments — many featuring familiar faces who also stood out in the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™. New talents from national teams also emerged and are expected to shape South American football in the coming years.

Here are the South American key players from the tournament in the United States so far:

Lionel Messi

A champion back in the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™, La Pulga was crucial for Inter Miami's advancement to the Round of 16, highlighted by a stunning free-kick goal in a historic win over Porto in Atlanta, and a stellar performance in the 2-2 draw against Palmeiras.

Luis Suárez

Palmeiras couldn’t handle a brilliant Luisito in the second round against Inter Miami. He assisted Segovia for the opener, then dribbled past several defenders to score a powerful left-footed goal.

Vinícius Júnior

Real Madrid had a slow start but showed its class just in time. In Matchday 3, Vini Jr. scored a beautiful left-footed goal against RB Salzburg and later delivered a clever backheel assist to Valverde in the 3-0 win that sealed their group lead.

Jhon Arias

A CONMEBOL Libertadores 2023 champion, the Fluminense midfielder had a key role in the team’s solid group stage. Arias scored a superb free kick against Ulsan and assisted Keno in a thrilling 4-2 comeback win.

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – Round of 16 Matches

• Palmeiras (1B) vs. Botafogo (2A) – Saturday, June 28 at 12:00 PM
• Benfica (1C) vs. Chelsea (2D) – Saturday, June 28 at 4:00 PM
• PSG (1A) vs. Inter Miami (2B) – Sunday, June 29 at 12:00 PM
• Flamengo (1D) vs. Bayern Munich (2C) – Sunday, June 29 at 4:00 PM
• Inter Milan (1E) vs. Fluminense (2F) – Monday, June 30 at 3:00 PM
• Manchester City (1G) vs. Al-Hilal (2H) – Monday, June 30 at 9:00 PM
• Real Madrid (1H) vs. Juventus (2G) – Tuesday, July 1 at 3:00 PM
• Borussia Dortmund (1F) vs. Monterrey (2E) – Tuesday, July 1 at 9:00 PM

All times in Eastern U.S. Daylight Time (UTC-4).

Ángel Di María

Fideo continues to defy time in his final tournament with Benfica before returning to Rosario Central. He converted all three penalties he took and was instrumental in the Portuguese club’s group-stage success. He’s among the tournament’s top scorers so far.

Danilo

Back in Brazil after years in Europe, Danilo has made a major impact at Flamengo. He scored the opening goal — a header from a corner — in a historic 3-1 win over Chelsea. A key addition to the Group D leaders.

Enzo Fernández

The Argentine midfielder was essential for Chelsea, with two assists in three minutes during the win over Espérance and a goal in the 2-0 victory against LAFC. A crucial player for the Blues.

Other standouts

• Marquinhos (Brazil) and William Pacho (Ecuador) anchored PSG to the top of Group A.
• Igor Jesus (Brazil) scored twice for Botafogo, while Savarino (Venezuela) assisted in the win over PSG.
• Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) scored twice for Inter Milan, Grupo .
• Flamengo also featured De Arrascaeta (Uruguay), Pedro, Gerson (Brazil), and Plata (Ecuador).
• A late header from Otamendi (Argentina) saved a draw for Benfica against Boca Juniors.
• Gustavo Gómez (Paraguay) and Richard Ríos (Colombia) started all three matches for Palmeiras.