Fluminense captain Thiago Silva played through the pain barrier to lead his team to the most eye-catching result of the Club World Cup to date, as it dumped Inter out in the last 16 with a 2-0 win.

Inter went into the round-of-16 matchup in Charlotte as overwhelming favourite to reach the quarter-finals. 

However, the Champions League runner-up was stunned in stifling heat at Bank of America Stadium, with German Cano stooping to head Jhon Arias's deflected cross from the right past Yann Sommer early on.

The 2023 Copa Libertadores victor should have doubled its lead when Samuel Xavier steered wide of the bottom-left corner, while centre-back Ignacio had a close-range header disallowed for offside. 

Inter continued to toil after half-time, and Fluminense got a clinching goal in stoppage time, with Hercules slotting into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box.

Silva, formerly of AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, made eight clearances, the joint-most on the pitch alongside Ignacio, while only Facundo Bernal and Ignacio bettered his two interceptions.

"I am very proud of my team-mates," the 40 year-old said. "It is so hard to play against Inter, they played the Champions League final only a month ago. 

"It was not easy to play, it was so hot today... too hot to play football. The timing was not good but Fluminense is a big team. 

"We played very well. To win 2-0 against Inter is not easy. Only 10 days ago, I had a hamstring issue so it was not easy to play today, but I am very proud of our medical team."

Fluminense has kept five clean sheets in its last six matches, recording shutouts against Borussia Dortmund, Mamelodi Sundowns and Inter at the Club World Cup.

It is the second Brazilian club to reach the last eight, after Palmeiras overcame Botafogo in the round of 16. Brazilian sides have a strong record in matches against European clubs at the 2025 Club World Cup, winning three and losing two (also two draws).

"We tried until the end, despite some changes to the formation," Inter manager Cristian Chivu said. "We tried to do our best but it wasn't the day for us. 

"They were well-organised with a low block and it was hard for us to find solutions. In the second half, we switched it a bit more, we put in more crosses, we tried until the end."

Fluminense will face the victor Al-Hilal for a place in the semi-finals.