Real Madrid won the FIFA Club World Cup for a record-enhancing fifth time by beating Al-Hilal in Saturday’s final in Morocco.
The European champions, who had thrashed Egypt’s Al Ahly 4-1 in the semi-finals won 5-3 against last season’s Saudi Pro League winners.
The same way Los Blancos are the most successful team in the Champions League, they are also head and shoulders above others in this tournament meant for all the continental champions.
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With Saturday’s feat, Madrid have won the world club title a record eight times, including three times when the competition was called the Intercontinental Cup.
However, this is their first world club title since 2018.
Despite their floundering domestic form, many unequivocally tipped Madrid to overpower Al Hilal in Saturday’s final played in Morocco.
The course of Carlo Ancelotti’s men was boosted with the return of Benzema to the starting line-up and the Frenchman played a key role early on.
A neat one two with Valverde on the edge of the box allowed the Real Madrid captain to slip in Vinicius Junior to calmly shoot the Spanish giants in front after just 13 minutes of play.
Five minutes after, Valverde powered home a superb second for Real Madrid.
While many were already anticipating a one-way traffic Moussa Marega pulled one back for Al Hilal as they ended the first half respectably at 2-1.
In the second half, Los Blancos continued from where they stopped in the first half with quick fire goals from Benzema in the 54th minute and Valverde completing his brace in the 58th minute.
While Luciano Vietto scored a second half brace for Al Hilal, Vinicius also completed his own brace with another goal in the 69th minute as the entertaining clash ended 5-3 in favour of the Spanish giants.
Ancelotti hails players
Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has hailed his players after they won the Club World Cup for a fifth time.
Real have now won all five finals they have played in the competition.
They previously won three titles in four years from 2014 to 2018.
“I think we’re improving, there were some mistakes at the back but a lot of quality up front.
“It’s been a good tournament for us, the improvement we’ve seen in recent games, the rest of the season we’re excited to fight until the end in every minute, every game, every competition,” Ancelotti said.
