German Cano Set to Remind Sundowns What They Missed as 2025 World Cup Kicks Off

As the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup gets underway, Mamelodi Sundowns are about to receive a stark reminder of what could have been. Argentine striker Germán Cano, now a talisman at Fluminense, was once offered to the South African champions—but they passed on the opportunity. Now, almost six years later, the prolific forward is set to face them on the global stage.

Back in 2019, Cano was preparing to leave Colombian outfit Independiente Medellín, and his name was pushed towards Sundowns by their well-connected Latin American scouting network. At the time, the forward was nearing his 32nd birthday—an age that made the Chloorkop outfit hesitate. Despite his proven goal-scoring record across South America, Sundowns turned down the chance to sign him, reportedly wary of his age and his journeyman career that had already seen him feature in Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, and Colombia.

It’s a decision that might haunt them now. The transfer package then would have placed Cano in the same financial bracket as some of Sundowns’ biggest acquisitions from South America—such as Marcelo Allende, Arthur Sales, and Matias Esquivel. In fact, had the deal gone through, he would likely have become the highest-paid player at the club.

Instead, Cano continued his rise elsewhere. He moved to Brazil with Vasco da Gama, where he immediately proved his worth by netting 24 goals in his first season and 19 more in his second. His success there led to a move to Fluminense—his ninth professional club—where his numbers have only improved.

At Fluminense, Cano has been nothing short of sensational, scoring an impressive 105 goals in 196 appearances. Even at 37, he remains one of the most feared strikers in South America. Though recently nursing an injury, Cano has travelled with the Fluminense squad that landed in the United States on Monday to begin their Club World Cup campaign.

Sundowns and Fluminense are both in Group F and are scheduled to meet on June 25—a fixture that is already drawing attention due to Cano’s backstory with the South African giants. It promises to be a compelling clash, especially as Sundowns will come face-to-face with a player they once turned down.

For Cano, it will be another stage to prove that age is just a number. For Sundowns, it will be a direct confrontation with a “what if”—a missed opportunity that could have added firepower to their already ambitious project. Whether or not he scores, Germán Cano’s presence alone will be a powerful reminder of a door that was once open but never walked through.