FIFA Club World Cup 

Matchday 2 of the FIFA Club World Cup continues to produce major upsets. After Inter Miami CF beat Porto earlier on Thursday, UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 to Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo in the late evening game. It is the first time a reigning  Copa Libertadores champion had beaten the reigning UEFA Champions League winners since Corinthians beat Chelsea in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup final 1-0.

Back in 2012, the hero was Paolo Guerrero. This time around, the scorer of the winning goal was Botafogo striker Igor Jesus. In the 36th minute, Jefferson Savarino threaded a pass through PSG’s midfield to find Igor Jesus, the Brazilian striker fought off two defenders to beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian goalkeeper was rooted to the line, having to watch as the ball slotted past him for what would turn out to be the winning goal of the game.

It is a win for the ages for Botafogo. It is also one the Brazilians had to fight hard for. PSG dominated this game all over the pitch. The Parisians had 75% possession and completed 680 passes over Botafogo’s 200 completed passes. But while they had the majority of the ball and pressed Botafogo deep into its own half, they didn’t produce many clear-cut chances. PSG would finish the game with an xG of just 0.78. That was better than Botafogo’s 0.28, but the difference maker was once again Igor Jesus.

Igor Jesus has now scored his second winner in his second game at the FIFA Club World Cup. Last Sunday against the Sounders, Igor Jesus scored a beautiful header to make it 2-0 against the Seattle Sounders. That win would ultimately secure the 2-1 victory over the MLS club. Tonight, it was a clinical finish against one of the world’s best keepers that secured the victory for Botafogo.

It wasn’t just the goals that made Igor Jesus stand out so far at this tournament. Fast, good in the air, Igor Jesus is also very physical and capable of holding up the ball to ensure that his teammates can join the attack. An almost complete striker, the 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Premier League side Nottingham Forest. With a market value of €15m, Igor Jesus wants to use the tournament to underline his European ambitions, and he has done just that. A name only known to insiders ahead of the Club World Cup, Igor Jesus is now the man to have taken down Europe’s best club team.