Allan of SE Palmeiras runs with the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between SE Palmeiras and FC Porto (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicked off Saturday night in Miami, as MLS side Inter Miami faced off against Egyptian behemoths Al Ahly in a 0-0 draw, which saw both goalkeepers—Oscar Ustari and Mohamed El-Shenawy—deliver spellbinding displays between the sticks. Sunday saw German champions Bayern Munich demolish New Zealand-based Auckland City 10-0, while newly crowned kings of Europe Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Spanish side Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Rose Bowl. Porto and Palmeiras followed with a 0-0 draw, and Brazilian side Botafogo edged the Seattle Sounders 2-1 via goals from Jair Filho and Igor Jesus.
This is the 21st edition of the FIFA Club World Cup and, simultaneously, the first in its new format. The previous iteration took place midseason, featuring six or seven teams from each continent competing for international glory. This revamped edition takes place at the end of the European club season, with 32 teams vying for the ultimate prize. One of FIFA’s goals with the expanded tournament was to minimize the gap between European and non-European clubs, and Brazilian giants Palmeiras made a strong case in their opening match against Portuguese side Porto.
The first half was a fairly even affair, with Porto earning several free kicks and looking to capitalize on set-piece situations. The Portuguese side applied pressure, but the Verdão coped well and ended the half with momentum, forcing a double save from Porto goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos and a goal-line clearance by Martim Fernandes. The second half told a different story: Porto ceded momentum, allowing Palmeiras to dictate the tempo. The Brazilians mounted wave after wave of pressure but couldn’t break through.
“It was a tale of two halves because we made some adjustments,” said Palmeiras midfielder Allan to RG.
“I think there were some warning signs during the first half, but [Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira and the team] made some tweaks in order to deliver a strong second half, and it worked out.”
From Florianópolis to the World Stage
Born in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Allan developed at Figueirense’s academy before moving to Palmeiras’ youth setup in 2019. He rose through the ranks, winning the Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 in 2022 and 2024, the Copa do Brasil Sub-20 in 2022, the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior in 2023, and the Campeonato Paulista Sub-20 in 2023. On Dec. 13, 2024, Allan renewed his contract until 2027, and a month later made his first-team debut, coming on as a late substitute for Rômulo in a 2–0 Campeonato Paulista home win over Portuguesa. Since then, he has emerged as a key midfield presence under Ferreira, tallying two goals and one assist in 21 appearances. On Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Allan replaced Chelsea-bound Estêvão in the 65th minute, winning one of two aerial duels and completing four of seven passes as well as one long ball.
In the post-match mixed zone, Allan emphasized the importance of staying focused and confident during a long tournament. Despite the scoreless result, he pointed to the positives and acknowledged the nerves inherent in such a high-stakes match.
Triumph Over Tragedy
Allan began playing futsal at age 7, often competing against older players before joining Palmeiras’ youth sector at 14. In 2019, a fire in Flamengo’s youth academy killed 10 boys, including Allan’s friend and former teammate Vitor Isaias. Not long after, his sister Letícia died from COVID-19 at age 20. Despite this immense adversity, Allan has risen above it all, establishing himself as a vital cog in Palmeiras’ midfield and earning a contract renewal through 2029.
Palmeiras will face Al Ahly on Thursday in East Rutherford before taking on Inter Miami on Monday in South Florida. When they do, they’ll be counting on the unwavering support of their traveling fans.
“We trust in our ability. Our focus is not just on the European clubs, but on the entire tournament—focus on each game,” Allan said. “This support is inexplicable. Everywhere we go, they are there to support us. It’s even difficult to talk… I’ve been through a lot of adversity in life, and if I said that I imagined being here today, at this moment, I would be a hypocrite. I can only thank Abel and God.”
Zach Lowy is a freelance football journalist who has written for leading outlets like FotMob, BetUS, Apuestas Deportivas, and who has appeared as a radio and television guest for BBC, SiriusXMFC, and various other platforms. After pursuing a global sports journalism degree at George Washington University, Zach has been able to tap into his multilingual background and interview major footballing figures in Spanish and Portuguese as well as operate the weekly podcast 'Zach Lowy's European Football Show' on BET Central.
