Amid emotions, historic goals, and unforgettable matches, Real Madrid has inspired promises that go beyond football. One of them comes from Manuel Alejandro, a devoted Madridista since 1974, who made a very peculiar bet in 2017: if Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the Champions League final, he would name his next son Ronaldo. As expected, the Portuguese star delivered—with a brace against Juventus—and so did Manuel: his son is named Manuel Ronaldo.

The story resurfaced during the 2025 Club World Cup, when, following the tournament’s draw, Manuel didn’t hesitate to buy tickets to see his beloved Real Madrid live—this time accompanied by one of his sons. A dream fulfilled that added extra emotion to a day marked by the team’s uneven debut.

A debut full of questions

Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Al Hilal in their opening match of the revamped tournament. The words of club president Florentino Pérez, who had promised that “the players will give everything to win the Club World Cup,” contrasted sharply with what was seen on the pitch at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

The team once again showed the same issues that cost them major titles last season: lack of intensity at the start, defensive errors, and a lack of creativity in build-up play. Just two minutes in, Thibaut Courtois had to stretch to save a dangerous shot from Milinkovic-Savic, and shortly after, Al Hilal came close again with a shot from Marcos Leonardo that narrowly missed.

Despite the strong support from the stands, neither Vinicius Jr. nor Rodrygo could break through the opponent’s solid defense. The opening goal came from a quick counterattack, with Gonzalo García finishing off an assist to make it 1-0. However, a foul by Asensio led to a penalty, which Al Hilal converted to equalize.

Tactical adjustments and lingering frustration

In the second half, Madrid showed slight improvement. Arda Güler hit the crossbar with a powerful strike, and Lucas Vázquez came on to bolster the flanks. Luka Modric, who received a standing ovation, came on in the final minutes—possibly one of his last appearances in a white shirt.

The draw left a bitter aftertaste. Young talent Franco Mastantuono, expected to be a key figure in the club’s future, has yet to join the squad, and Federico Valverde missed a penalty in stoppage time that could have secured a win.

Still, for fans like Manuel Alejandro, seeing Real Madrid at the Club World Cup is already a reward. Even more so when accompanied by a son named Ronaldo, in honor of a legend who continues to inspire new generations of Madridistas.