Xabi Alonso’s debut as Real Madrid manager at the 2025 Club World Cup ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in Miami. The Spanish giants looked out of sync at key moments, and when victory was within reach, Federico Valverde missed a crucial penalty in the 88th minute. Right after the final whistle, Alonso walked over to console the Uruguayan, hugged him, and whispered something in his ear — an emotional moment that quickly went viral.

Gonzalo scores, but Rubén Neves hits back and The penalty that changed everything

Madrid opened the scoring through academy product Gonzalo García, finishing off a slick team move involving Rodrygo, Vinícius, and Valverde. But the lead didn’t last. Just before halftime, Raúl Asencio gave away a penalty that Rubén Neves calmly converted. In the second half, Madrid pushed hard with efforts from Arda Güler and another strike from Gonzalo, but Yassine Bono stood tall in goal to keep things level.

The big turning point came late when VAR spotted a foul on Fran García. Valverde stepped up but couldn’t beat Bono, who guessed right and made a brilliant save. “Fede’s got a powerful shot, but he didn’t check the keeper,” said Thibaut Courtois post-match on DAZN. “Bono moved early, he was already in the corner... He’s a great penalty stopper. It’s a shame, but Fede’s got to keep his head up and move on.”

Full support for the Uruguayan

Bono, for his part, said: “Penalties are always a mix of instinct and luck. This time I got it right, other times not so much.” But it was Xabi Alonso’s reaction that stood out — embracing Valverde in front of the cameras, showing what emotional leadership looks like. “This team will be better at the end of the tournament than we are now,” the coach said.

With that result, Real Madrid now has no room for error and must beat Pachuca in their next group stage match. The challenge is no longer just tactical — it’s mental. And Alonso has already taken the first step: showing that belief and unity matter, especially when things don’t go your way.