Kylian Mbappé finally made his first appearance at the Club World Cup, entering the match against Juventus two weeks and four games after being hospitalized with a stomach illness that caused him to lose five kilograms. While fans at the Hard Rock Stadium roared his name, applauded as he walked to the center circle, and rose to their feet when he was introduced, the real hero for Real Madrid in their quarter-final qualification was a 21-year-old many barely knew a month ago.
The standout performer of the tournament continues to be Gonzalo García, who netted his third goal in the U.S. with a powerful header—something no one else managed in 90 minutes—beating Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. Coming from a family of rugby players, bullfighters, and, famously, Hollywood icon Rita Hayworth (his grandfather was her cousin), García is proving to be a footballer worth watching. Spain’s under-17 coach Hernán Pérez believes he could lead Madrid’s attack for years.
Mbappé’s presence looms large, but García has impressed, particularly in the U.S. On a rain-soaked Miami afternoon, where Madrid struggled at times to break through, García delivered when it mattered, securing a clash with either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the next round.
Madrid deserved the win, having been the stronger side, though it took time to settle. Early sparks came from Juventus’s Kenan Yildiz, who linked well with Andrea Cambiaso and Randal Kolo Muani, while Khéphren Thuram and Francisco Conceição also influenced play. The 20-year-old Yildiz, slight and left-footed, was described by Kolo Muani as "magic," and he left his mark more than once. His first attempt was mishit, but his subsequent efforts were sharper, making him a joy to watch in the first half.
Yildiz nearly helped open the scoring after six minutes, starting from Juventus’s defensive third where Trent Alexander-Arnold lost possession. Kolo Muani sprinted forward, receiving a well-placed pass from Yildiz before lifting his shot just over Thibaut Courtois and the crossbar. Later, Yildiz turned smartly and forced a deflection, nutmegged Alexander-Arnold, and slipped past both him and Antonio Rüdiger to set up a Cambiaso cross.
From another Cambiaso delivery, Conceição headed downward, but Courtois made a comfortable save.
Madrid, again deploying three central defenders, struggled at times but ultimately secured control.
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