Real Madrid Are Crowned World Champions For A Record-Extending Fifth Time. {Watch Highlights}

Real Madrid are crowned as FIFA Club World Cup champions for the fifth time, and eighth overall, including the Intercontinental Cup titles, after a 5-3 thrilling final victory against Al Hilal.

Vinícius Júnior and Federico Valverde scored a brace each and the returning Karim Benzema was also on the scoresheet as the European champions beat their Saudi Arabian opponents in an eight goals thriller at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, Morocco on Saturday night.

Luciano Vietto scored twice and Moussa Maréga once for the Asian champions in the high-scoring encounter.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti surprisingly brought Benzema back into the starting line-up having recoverd from a thigh injury, with Rodrygo dropping to the bench.

The Ballon d’Or holder, had missed Los Blancos last two games, including the semifinal 4-1 win against Egyptian club Al Ahly on Wednesday, the round the European champions always enter the tournament.

The 35-year-old striker created the opening goal for Vinicius with a short pass to send the Brazilian winger through on goal after just 13 minutes into the game.

Madrid took control of the match in the early stages and Valverde saw a shot deflected home to extend the lead five minutes later.

Mali striker Moussa Maréga raced through to pull a goal back in the 26th minute, the former Porto man slides a shot past Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who was standing in for the injured Thibaut Courtois.

Benzema missed a good chance late in the half to restore the two-goal cushion, keeping the Saudi side in the game at half time.

Despite a few scares from the Saudi Arabain opponents, Real came out purposefully early in the second half to put the game to bed.

Vinicius set up Benzema with a stunning cross on the left flank using the outside of his right boot, and the French forward made no mistake this time with a powerful close range finish in the 54th minute.

A neat finish from Uruguayan midfielder Valverde after a one-two with defender Dani Carvajal left goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayoof unsighted, to make it a 4-1 scoreline before the hour mark.

It was a second goal for Valverde who seems to have found his form and goals again after a dip in form.

Al Hilal kept on fighting and pulled another goal back through ex-Atletico Madrid striker Luciano Vietto in the 63rd minute after sprinting behind Antonio Rüdiger before chipping past Lunin to cut Madrid's lead to 4-2.

Vinicius quickly restored the three-goal cushion with a clinical strike into the right corner in the 69th minute.

The Brazilian winger, who has faced a frustrating spell in this season due to appalling racist abuse from the stands and opponents targeting him on the pitch, Vinicius was able to make a positive statement in Morocco, netting in both of Madrid’s matches, and was crowned the player of the tournament.

Though Argentina's Vietto pounced again with a clever turn and finish in the 79th minute to cut the cushion back to two goals (5-3), and made the result a respectable one.

 

The Asian champions Al-Hilal, who are managed by former Oxford United boss Ramon Diaz, beat Brazilians Flamengo in the semis to become the first Saudi team to reach the final, but were unable to be the first Asian team to lift the trophy.

This emphatic result saw Carlo Ancelotti's Real secure their fifth FIFA Club World Cup, adding to their four cups from 2014 to 2018, ensuring European teams have won the past 10 editions of the tournament, and making it a 100 trophies won in the club's history.

Los Blancos are now two Club World Cup titles ahead of rivals Barcelona in second place.

This is second piece of silverware of the season for Real, after winning the European Super Cup in August.

“We are very happy, for the eighth time Madrid are champions of the world, it was what we had to do,” Ancelotti told Telecinco.

“We’re happy, it was a good game. We had a lot of quality up front.

“I think we were good up front, with Vinicius, Benzema, Valverde... they did very well, we had skill and quality.”

Madrid had also won three Intercontinental Cups in 1960, 1998 and 2002, a match between European and South American champions, which merged with the Club World Cup in 2005.

Chelsea won last year's final but were not able to defend it as only reigning continental champions, and champions of the host country are invited.

Fifa reportedly plans to change the format of the tournament from June 2025 to feature 32 teams and be held every four years.

Earlier in the day, Brazilian Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo finished third with a 4-2 win over Egypt’s Al Ahly.

Ancelotti is now keen to refocus his squad for a demanding run of games in the coming weeks after taking a short break from their domestic battle with Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona to earn the title of world champions.

They sit eight points behind rivals Barca, who also beat them in the Spanish Super Cup final in January.

Los Blancos will return to Spain immediately, to continue their celebrations, but are expected to be back in training within 24 hours, ahead of facing Elche in midweek.

That is followed by a Copa del Rey semi final against Atletico Madrid, and a Champions League last 16 double header against old foes Liverpool.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!

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