São João turned blue again as Porto’s year flipped from Club World Cup chaos to champions | OneFootball

FC Porto travelled from Club World Cup turmoil to a champions’ street party, transforming the 12 months between one São João and the next.

In the early hours of 24 June 2025 they ended a miserable campaign with a 4-4 against Al Ahly in the United States, their qualification already gone. According to O Jogo, they were the competition’s poorest-performing European side.

Abou Ali hit a hat-trick. Rodrigo Mora scored, William Gomes netted his first for the club, Samu struck and Pepê was also on target. All stayed on for a far happier season.

Around then André Villas-Boas urged decisive action in New Jersey, pledging a tilt at next season’s title and noting fans had tolerated plenty. An angry crowd greeted the squad at the airport, while first talks with Francesco Farioli on Lake Como shaped the plan.

July began with Martín Anselmi’s exit, long signposted. Five days later the Italian was unveiled, the squad reshaped and a defensive platform took hold. They led the I Liga from first to last.

August brought the shocking passing of Jorge Costa, yet the side drew on the Bicho’s legacy. An unprecedented title party flowed from Ribeira to the Aliados and revived an early São João, four years on. From one 24 June to the next, everything changed.

Source: O Jogo