Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal pulled off one of the most remarkable upsets in recent football history, defeating reigning Premier League champions Manchester City 4-3 in a dramatic Club World Cup clash in Florida.

On a night more associated with wrestling shows on American TV, it was football that stole the spotlight. Marcos Leonardo’s late winner capped off a stunning performance, sending City crashing out of the tournament and sparking celebrations among Al-Hilal supporters.

Former England international Andros Townsend, speaking on Dazn, summed it up simply: “Al-Hilal have shocked the world.”

For Leonardo, the night was especially emotional. The Brazilian striker, who scored twice, dedicated his goals to his mother, who had recently spent 70 days in intensive care.

“These past two months have been incredibly hard,” he said after the match. “My mother was in the ICU for 70 days. Now, thank God, she’s doing better. When I scored, I thought of her. She was watching tonight.”

Al-Hilal’s head coach, Simone Inzaghi, who only recently took charge of the team after departing Inter Milan, called the victory a monumental achievement. A month ago, Inzaghi was reeling from a 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Now, he’s celebrating one of the biggest wins of his coaching career.

“The credit goes to the players and the heart they showed,” Inzaghi said. “We knew we had to do something extraordinary. It felt like climbing Mount Everest without oxygen—and we did it.”

Despite being without key players like Salem Al-Dawsari and Aleksandar Mitrovic due to injury, Al-Hilal delivered a courageous and disciplined performance.

“They gave everything,” Inzaghi added. “They fought for every ball. This win means so much—to the club, to Saudi Arabia, and to our fans who believed in us.”

The result is a major statement for Saudi football, which has poured billions into its domestic league to gain global recognition. Monday night’s result was a glimpse of that ambition being realized—but for Manchester City, it raised serious questions.

As City reflect on the shock defeat, Al-Hilal will bask in a victory that felt, in Inzaghi’s words, like reaching the top of the world.