Al-Hilal crashed out of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Brazil’s Fluminense on July 4. Talk of a fresh Brazilian reinforcement never turned into a confirmed signing. The Saudi side leaned on a Brazilian-heavy core—Marcos Leonardo, Malcom, Renan Lodi, and Kaio Cesar—but fell short. The exit raises fresh questions about strategy, depth, and timing.
