Who are the players that have something to prove at the Club World Cup this summer? GOAL takes a look at those with the most on the line
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The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is now less than a month away. A revamped format featuring 32 teams in an expanded World Cup-style Group Stage followed by single-elimination knockout rounds, the competition is being slated to be absolutely blockbuster. The competition will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, from the opener on June 14 until the final on July 13. In the U.S., fans can stream or watch matches on DAZN or TNT.
Teams from six of the world's continents from Real Madrid to Inter Miami, to Mamelodi Sundowns, Boca Juniors and Urawa Red Diamonds will be fighting for the glory of the Club World Cup title. Within those 32 teams, though, are a group of players who are out to prove themselves. For one reason or another, there are individuals who have a lot on the line this summer.
stars Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham need to have productive tournaments following underwhelming domestic campaigns, while someone like Lionel Messi has the hope of both a club and a league resting on his shoulders. Then, there's players like Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, who is looking to perform well to earn a big-money move in the transfer window this summer. How could you forget a player like Estevao, too? Could this be his announcement to the world saying he's finally arrived?
GOAL takes a look at this group and more, with the 13 players with the most on the line this summer as FIFA's marquee event is now just one month away from kicking off.
Getty ImagesVinicius Junior, Real Madrid
It's fair to say Vini hasn't performed at the level expected of him over the past year. He unexpectedly fell to second place at the 2024 Ballon d'Or awards and from there? It was a slow fall off that resulted in a trophyless season for the Brazil star for .
What's unfair, is to say he's been poor, he hit 20 goal-contributions in La Liga, and 11 in 12 in the Champions League this season, but he didn't fit role of star of Real Madrid that's long been commanded from him. At the CWC this summer, Real Madrid will have title expectations, and Vini will play more than a major role in those aspirations. Alongside Kylian Mbappe, he will be expected to help them compete for a championship trophy.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportCole Palmer, Chelsea
Cole Palmer hasn't enjoyed himself as much on the pitch with Chelsea during the latter half of the English clubs' campaign in the Premier League. The breakout star of the 2023-24 season for the the 23-year-old suffered an 18-game goalless drought from January to May this year – and saw a relative slump in productivity as a result. Chelsea have also been in a relative slump, though. The are trophyless dating back to their 2021 UEFA Champions League title, and although they're playing for a Conference League title in a few weeks time, they haven't played at the level that fans are used to seeing them at in recent years.
At the Club World Cup this summer, Palmer will be tasked with being the face of the club in the tournament, and the centerfold of attacking productivity within the team. There will be high expectations for the London-based club, and Palmer himself, who needs a big tournament following a tough stretch of form to close out the Premier League season.
AFPLionel Messi, Inter Miami
Inter Miami's 2024 MLS playoff run was nothing short of an disaster. The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and the overall favorite to lift MLS Cup, they were eliminated by Atlanta United in Round 1 of their Best-of-3 series against the . Fast forward to 2025, and the first trophy to play for this season is already out of their grasp, following their semifinal elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup by the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Messi – an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner – was brought in to lead them in moments like those. And although the supporting cast needs to play a role as well, he's looked at as the face of those respective tournament exits. The Club World Cup, meanwhile, offers the Argentine a chance at redemption over the matter.
Inter Miami were handed the luck of the draw with their group, landing in Group A with Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly FC. There's a realistic path to the knockout round for the . They must capitalize on the opportunity, and Messi will be expected to lead the charge.
GettyErling Haaland, Manchester City
Haaland's goalscoring output has down down for the second-consecutive season for Manchester City in the Premier League. In the 2022-23 season, he scored 36 goals, and in the 2023-24 season, he bagged 27. This season has seen him score 21 times. However, it's important to note he was sidelined for seven weeks, and as a result, wasn't able to find consistency during the spring campaign.
For a striker of his caliber, and with his previous output taken into context, he's still fallen below the standard expected of him this season. It's not just him, though. The reigning champions fell out of contention for the Premier League title around the flip of the calendar year following a rough spell of form – allowing Liverpool to firmly put their feet forward and eventually claim the domestic league title.
Come this summer, Haaland will need to show that he still has what it takes to be the best in the world in his spot, while City will look to reclaim their throne atop the Club World Cup podium as they enter the fray as the reigning champions following their 2023 triumph in the competition.
