Real Madrid needed extra time to defeat Kashima Antlers and lift the FIFA Club World Cup, defeating the Japanese champions 4-2. Karim Benzema gave Real Madrid the lead before a brace from Gaku Shibasaki put the cat among the pigeons. It was then the turn of the 2016 Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo to turn on his magic and ultimately win it for Real Madrid.
Ronaldo pulled one back for Real Madrid to bring the score level at 2-2 after 90 minutes. He then completed his hat-trick with two goals in extra time to cement Los Blancos’ status as champions of the world.
Here are the best stats from the FIFA Club World Cup final:
21 – Real Madrid become the most successful club in the world, with 21 international titles, one ahead of Barcelona and Al Ahli on 20.
83 – The FIFA CWC is the 83rd title in Real Madrid’s history.
3 – Real Madrid have won three trophies in the 37 games they have gone unbeaten, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and now the FIFA Club World Cup
0 – Real Madrid have not lost a single game when Lucas Vazquez has figured in the starting XI.
11 - Zinedine Zidane is the quickest manager to win three trophies with Real Madrid - in just 11 months.
5 – Spain are the country to have won the most FIFA Club World Cups (FC Barcelona – 3, Real Madrid – 2)
40 – Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 40th hat-trick for Real Madrid, the most by any player in La Liga’s history.
5 – Real Madrid are the club with the most Club World Cup titles in history, including its previous avatar as the Intercontinental Cup
26 – Zidane has broken Real Madrid’s record of the longest undefeated start to a season in all competitions, with this win being their 26th game in 2016/17
10 – Real Madrid’s haul of 10 trophies in this decade matches their haul of 10 trophies won from 2000-2009.
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA Club World Cup Final, although Pele scored a hat-trick in the Intercontinental Cup final.
6 – Cristiano Ronaldo is the joint top-scorer in FIFA Club World Cup history with 6 goals.
571 – Cristiano Ronaldo’s haul of 571 goals for club and country is the most of any active player in the world.
