Vinícius Júnior Runs the Show as Real Madrid Cruise in Philadelphia
If you caught any of Real Madrid’s group stage games at this year's FIFA Club World Cup, you probably noticed how sharp and confident they looked. But on June 26 at Lincoln Financial Field, they kicked it up a notch. With a cool 3-0 win against RB Salzburg, they locked down first place in Group H and punched their ticket to the round of 16. The star? Vinícius Júnior. He didn’t just score – he set the tone for the whole night.
Madrid set out with intent, pressing high and forcing Salzburg onto the back foot from the first whistle. Salzburg tried to play out from the back, but Madrid’s intensity broke up most patterns. The first clear warning came in the 18th minute, when Vinícius tore down the left and forced a tricky save from the Salzburg keeper. Madrid, clearly not in the mood to wait, kept probing.
The breakthrough came five minutes before halftime. Jude Bellingham, giving off that air of unflappable confidence, threaded a tight pass through the middle. Vinícius took it in stride and, from just outside the box, curled a low left-footer into the net. The crowd barely had time to sit down before Vinícius produced another bit of magic. Deep into first-half stoppage time, he drew two defenders, slipped a cheeky back-heel to Federico Valverde, and watched Valverde finish from six yards out. Madrid went in 2-0 up and looking totally in control.
Courtois Saves, García Seals, and Real Books a Date with Juventus
After the break, Salzburg came out fighting. Their attacks looked braver, and they even rattled Madrid’s defense a couple of times. But Thibaut Courtois reminded everyone why he’s one of the game’s best goalkeepers. He made two excellent stops—one a fingertip push over the bar, another a quick dive at the feet of a Salzburg striker. Madrid’s back line, marshaled by Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger, held tight when it mattered.
Just when Salzburg thought they might spark a comeback, Madrid slammed the door. In the 84th minute, substitute Gonzalo García burst forward on the counter following a Salzburg corner. With defenders scrambling, he chipped neatly over the onrushing keeper, putting the result beyond doubt.
The rest of the match played out as a formality. With that result, Real Madrid finished atop Group H with seven points from three matches. RB Salzburg and Mexico’s Pachuca—neither team able to notch a win—were sent packing. Al-Hilal snuck through as group runner-up, setting up a clash with Manchester City in Orlando.
For Real Madrid, next up is a juicy round-of-16 battle against Juventus on June 30 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Vinícius enters that tie brimming with confidence, while Madrid as a whole looks primed to chase another global trophy. The early signs? They’re not just favorites—they look nearly unstoppable.
