The European giants, led by a trio of Ballon d’Or hopefuls, are among the top contenders to take home the trophy this summer
Real Madrid are favorties to win pretty much every competition they enter. Or, at least, that’s the expectation. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have enjoyed immense success both domestically and in Europe in recent years. And a Club World Cup is expected to be no different. They would seem to have one of the stronger squads in contention, and with the buzzing attacking trio of Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo, can beat anyone on their day.
Perhaps the only thing to hold them back is a beleaguered defense. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao – two vital starters – won’t be fit by the time the competition rolls around in June, having sustaining severe knee injuries. That might not bode well in the big games.
Still, this is Madrid. And Madrid tend to find a way to win – summer, fall, winter or spring.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, from the opener on June 14 until the final on July 13. Leading up to kickoff, GOAL will provide scouting reports on each of the 32 participating teams in the expanded field. First up is Real Madrid, with a look at key players to watch, and expectations for the Spanish giants ahead this summer’s tournament.
The Basics
DOMESTIC LEAGUE: La Liga
CLUB WORLD CUP HISTORY: Four Club World Cup wins, three intercontinental cup wins
GROUP: H (Real Madrid, Al Hilal, CF Pachuca, FC Salzburg)
OPENING MATCH: Al Hilal – June 18, 3 pm. ET, Miami
How they got here
Madrid could have qualified in multiple ways due to both league and European success. But the reason listed by FIFA is the fact that they have won at least one of the last three Champions League titles (of course, they have won two.)
The player to watch
Pick one! Madrid are stacked across the forward line, and have some of the best midfielders in world football in their ranks. The guy who makes it all tick, though, is Jude Bellingham.
England’s star midfielder does it all in the center of the park for Los Blancos. His first Spanish campaign, last year, saw him establish himself as a dominant goalscorer. This year, playing in a deeper role, he has been similarly impactful – albeit in a different way.
Now, he has a master creator, and will likely set a career high in assists should Mbappe and Vinicius continue to find the net. A word, too, for his defensive activity and energy. Turns out that he’s talented enough to go from world class striker to world class No. 8 pretty easily.
Madrid’s most clinical player? Not really. But they’re not the same without him.
Realistic expectation
Is it ever realistic to expect a team to win it all? Well, welcome to Madrid, where the concept of “fair” goes out the window when it comes to winning.
Los Blancos simply have to win every competition they enter – such is the pedigree of the club. It helps, though, that Madrid have the strongest squad in the tournament – especially given Liverpool’s absence. Another trophy could be on the cards.