In December 2024, Luis Enrique, the PSG coach, had indeed let go to a daring prediction: “PSG-Botafogo, I can guarantee it. Finally … almost. A sentence launched with confidence on the sidelines of the draw of the World Cup for Clubs 2025, during which the Parisian club was in hat 1. At the time, Botafogo had just won the Copa Libertadores and was one of the teams that Paris could meet from the group phase.
And as announced, the spell decided as well: PSG ended up in group B alongside Atlético de Madrid, Seattle Sounders… and Botafogo. A surprisingly fair prediction, but that no one would have imagined becoming so heavy with consequences.
Now that the PSG is losing against the Botafogo, it is a good day to remember this December 2024 when the organization of the teams in the Club World Cup was not yet known: pic.twitter.com/zCotDfy79U
– Adrián. (@Adrianmcf) June 20, 2025
Botafogo's perfect blow against PSG
During the night, on the lawn of Los Angeles, the prophecy of Luis Enrique indeed took a bitter turn. Logical favorite of this club World Cup, PSG lost 1-0 against the Brazilian club. Despite an almost total domination – possession, frank occasions, constant pressure – the Parisians have never managed to blow up the defensive lock of a heroic botafogo, carried by an exceptional goalkeeper, John.
The only purpose of the meeting came against the course of the game, in the 37th minute, on a strike from Igor Jesus diverted by Pacho. This thunderclap left the red and blue unanswered, despite the many changes made by Luis Enrique to relaunch his team.
This unexpected defeat weakens the position of PSG in the group, and makes a victory against Seattle imperative to hope for qualification. For a club that had brilliantly beat Atlético a few days earlier (4-0), this setback is a brutal reminder: no match is won in advance.
Botafogo, given outsider, not only validated his presence in the tournament as Luis Enrique had “planned”, but above all wrote a historic page of his history by bringing a giant. A prediction that has become reality … with a bitter taste for Paris.
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To summarize
In December, Luis Enrique predicted a PSG-Botafogo at the Club World Cup. Six months later, the confrontation took place … and ended in a surprise defeat of PSG (1-0). Botafogo, Brazilian outsider, signed the feat, confirming in spite of himself the vision of the Parisian coach.
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