Rico Lewis reacts to ‘gutted’ Phil Foden’s message after Man City shock
Phil Foden reflected on social media after Manchester City’s season to forget finally came to an end with a shock Club World Cup defeat against Al-Hilal.
The 2023–24 Premier League Player of the Year was the greatest example of Man City‘s drop-off in form last season, as Foden failed to build on the campaign which saw him register 27 goals and 13 assists.
Foden’s 40 goal contributions in all competitions dropped to 20 across the 2024–25 season, but City’s involvement in the Club World Cup had seen the 25-year-old show glimpses of getting back to his best.
Man City’s number 47 scored and assisted in their opening match against Wydad Casablanca and netted in a 5-2 thumping of Juventus, but Foden’s contribtution against Al-Hilal proved to be in vain on Monday.
Man City suffer surprise Club World Cup exit
Pep Guardiola‘s side avoided a round-of-16 tie against Real Madrid after beating Juventus to top their group, but their meeting with Al-Hilal was far from the formality many fans would have anticipated.
City led inside nine minutes through Bernardo Silva, but two quick-fire goals after half-time from Marcos Leonardo and Malcom spun the game on its head until Erling Haaland restored parity in the 55th minute.
Extra time saw Al-Hilal take the lead again through Kalidou Koulibaly, and Foden’s equaliser 10 minutes later still wasn’t enough to turn things back into City’s favour as Marcos Leonardo grabbed a late winner.
Foden’s goal was his 100th in City colours and came just four minutes after his introduction, and in an Instagram post (1 July) which was liked by his team-mate Rico Lewis, Foden said: “Gutted to go out of the FIFA Club World Cup.
“Proud to have hit 100 goals for my club though – Thank you for all your support, it means a lot!”
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Football Insider Verdict
Although City’s earlier-than-expected exit from the Club World Cup won’t leave many fans crestfallen, it confirms a trophyless season for Guardiola’s side after a disappointing campaign on multiple fronts.
Foden ends his season level with Haaland as City’s top scorer in the Club World Cup, showing that the England playmaker has risen to the occasion after the arrivals of Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders.
With Cherki, Silva, Jeremy Doku, Savinho, and Claudio Echeverri to compete with next term, City’s time at the Club World Cup could prove to be the period which re-rails Foden’s career at the Etihad Stadium.