Arturo Vidal, the 'King' of Chilean football, faced his most disappointing year in 2025 with Colo Colo, marked by poor performance, injuries, and ejections. The white team finished last in their Copa Libertadores group and was eliminated early from the league and Copa Chile. At 38 years old, Vidal renewed his contract for 2026 despite the setbacks.
In January 2025, Arturo Vidal expressed high expectations with Colo Colo, stating: “The championship will surely be much easier, but our goal is to win the Libertadores”. However, the season turned into a nightmare for the midfielder and the club in its centenary year. The squad, the most expensive in Chilean football history, failed to deliver the hoped-for titles.
The hardest blow came on April 10 during the match against Fortaleza in the Copa Libertadores, with serious incidents that caused the deaths of two fans, Mylan and Martina, and a pitch invasion. Conmebol awarded the points to the Brazilian team, punished the Estadio Monumental, and imposed a heavy fine. Colo Colo, under Jorge Almirón, managed a draw against Racing, a 4-0 thrashing in Brazil against Fortaleza, another 4-0 loss in Avellaneda, and a pointless win against Atlético Bucaramanga, finishing last in the group.
In the Primera División league, the team lacked consistency and fell out of the title race. In the Copa Chile, they were eliminated in the group stage after a historic 4-1 defeat to Deportes Limache. By September, Fernando Ortiz took over as coach, favoring players like Tomás Alarcón, Víctor Méndez, and Vicente Pizarro over Vidal and Esteban Pavez.
Individually, Vidal played 27 matches, scored three goals, and logged 1,772 minutes, figures lower than the 35 matches, eight goals, and 2,753 minutes in 2024, when he helped secure the Primera División and Supercopa. He suffered injuries: a tear in February, thigh issues in August-September, and a hamstring strain in November. He accumulated 14 yellows and two reds, including ejections for gestures toward Racing fans in May and shouting at referee Fernando Vejar in June against Audax Italiano, costing him suspensions in derbies.
Despite everything, a clause automatically renewed his contract for 2026 after playing 50% of possible minutes. This 2025, comparable only to 2023 without titles, contrasts sharply with his trophy-filled career at Juventus, Bayern, Barcelona, and Inter.
