FIFA Club World Cup – Our Group Stage Awards
FIFA Club World Cup – Group Stage Awards
Best Player
Michael Olise is just fantastic to watch. Admittedly, the calibre of Bayern Munich's opposition in the group stage can be questioned, but Olise's smooth dribbling has stood out.
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Full of flair and neat touches, Olise was involved in four goals as Bayern began with a 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City. Yes, ten.
He then netted the winner to down Boca Juniors in game two, before being summoned rapidly from the bench as Bayern struggled in his absence against Benfica.
No player scored more (3), assisted more (2), or completed more dribbles (12) than Olise in the group stage.
In 52 games for Bayern Munich across all competitions this season, Olise has 20 goals and 20 assists. He's taken to the top level with absolute ease.
Best Young Player
Kenan Yildiz has enjoyed his tournament so far with the Juventus winger underlining his potential in the United States.
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The Turkey international was on the scoresheet in the 5-0 win over Al-Ain, before playing a pivotal part in the 4-1 win over Wydad AC. Yildiz forced the own goal for the opener, before hitting a stunning strike into the top corner. He doubled his account soon after in an eye-catching showing.
An honourable mention for Estevao Willian, who has certainly caused the excitement levels at Chelsea to increase. The teenager won back-to-back man-of-the-match awards for Palmeiras, in his final tournament for the club before moving to Stamford Bridge.
Best Goal
Mamelodi Sundowns were unfortunate to exit at the group stage after impressing in their three fixtures.
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After beating Ulsan HD in their opener, the South African side lost 4-3 to Borussia Dortmund in a tight thriller. Sundowns took the lead inside 11 minutes courtesy of one of the goals of the tournament. Lucas Ribeiro took matters into his own hands, with a surging run from inside his own half to open the scoring.
Best Save
File this under backs to the wall defending from FC Porto.
Best Game
FC Porto and Al Ahly FC both needed to win in their final fixture to progress and the desperation delivered an absolute classic.
The two teams crashed out of the competition but not before sharing a pulsating eight-goal draw. Al Ahly led four times in the contest but on each occasion were pegged back by their Portuguese opponents.
Abou Ali hit a hat-trick for Al Ahly, but Porto kept on returning with a response. An end-to-end epic was summarised by three second-half goals scored just 169 seconds apart, in a see-sawing showdown. A valiant way to bow out for both teams.
Best Stat
Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio is the oldest player at the tournament with the veteran still going strong at 44 years of age. Incredibly, Fabio has extended his own record for the longest time between two FIFA tournaments.
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Fabio was part of the Brazil team that won the u-17 World Cup, featuring alongside Ronaldinho, way back in 1997. It's an astonishing 28-year gap between tournament appearances.
Biggest surprise
Paris Saint-Germain were unstoppable on their path to a first Champions League crown this season, with their 5-0 final thrashing of Inter Milan a record-breaking feat.
The French champions came unstuck against Botafogo in the group stage, however, as the Copa Libertadores winners upset their European counterparts.
Igor Jesus fired the Brazilian side into a first-half lead before Botafogo stood firm under intense pressure to claim the scalp of PSG. The South American sides have enjoyed some memorable wins over their wealthier rivals across the Atlantic but none better than this.
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