FIFA Club World Cup finals: 5 memorable moments

Ronaldo's hat-trick in the 2016 final was one of the best individual performances in the finals of the Club World Cup
Ronaldo's hat-trick in the 2016 final was one of the best individual performances in the finals of the Club World Cup

And so Real Madrid are through to the finals, gunning to become the first side to successfully retain the prestigious Club World Cup trophy. They now face Brazil's Gremio on Saturday, in what is nothing but a preparatory outing before the all-important El Clasico in the following week.

Nonetheless, like the years gone by, this one too wouldn't be short of thrills and chills. So building on that, we have witnessed some really exciting moments in the finals of the competition over the years. Right from its inception in 2000 to the last one in 2016, the Club World Cup has given us memories worth cherishing, some finals that are never too old to be discussed or be a part of sports columns.

Let's look back at five of them; five most memorable moments from a FIFA Club World Cup final.

#5 Edmundo's penalty howler makes Corinthians the first world champions

Corinthians vs Vasco Da Gama : FIFA Club World Final 2000
Corinthians vs Vasco Da Gama : FIFA Club World Final 2000

Vasco da Gama, a small club from Brazil, were living the dream. Having defeated Manchester United 3-1 to seal a spot in the finals, the first ever world championship beckoned Romario and co. Moreover, they had a chance to claim the prize in their own hometown, Rio De Janeiro.

Entering the Marcana gates riding on an elephant, Vasco poured their sweat and blood to keep the might of Corinthians at an arm's length. With the game deadlocked at 0-0, a shootout followed, and Marcelinho's miss on Coringao's last attempt gave the Rio outfit a breather after Gilberto fluffed his lines.

Edmundo stepped up for Vasco with the ambitions of equalling the scores, and painfully blasted a shot into row Z, handing Corinthians the first ever title after a 4-3 shootout victory.

Vasco da Gama's dream run had come to an agonizing end.

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#4 Clumsy Chelsea handed further embarrassment by Corinthians

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Corinthians vs Chelsea : FIFA Club World Cup Final 2012

With their 2012 Champions League victory being deemed fortuitous and a result of ugly playing, Chelsea were humiliated by Atletico Madrid in the 4-1 defeat in the UEFA Supercup, before bowing out in the group stages of the Champions League to become the first defending champions with such an unwanted record.

Rafael Benitez was soon roped in to steer the sinking ship, and although he did end up guiding Chelsea to their first Europa League success, it wasn't before the embarrassment at the Club World Cup.

Chelsea, defeating Monterrey 3-1 in the semi-finals, were cleverly outsmarted by a Corinthians side who were repressed for large parts of the game by the mighty Blues who seemed to have their numbers.

A defensive muddle during a set-piece, however, resulted in a goal for the Brazilians as Guerrero made a meal of the acres of space left behind and comfortably headed in a goal that proved to be enough eventually.

Chelsea were left ashen-faced as they ran completely out of luck they so merrily rode the season before.

After Liverpool in 2005 and Barcelona a year later, the Blues joined the unwanted league of Europe's big boys who slipped to Brazil's supposed minnows.

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#3 Gabiru stuns Barcelona with a late strike

Internacional vs FC Barcelona : FIFA Club World Cup Final 2006
Internacional vs FC Barcelona : FIFA Club World Cup Final 2006

The day of 17th December 2006 may have been just another day in the lives of many, but marks a dark spot in FC Barcelona's storied history.

Having qualified for the Club World Cup after claiming only their second Champions League title just months ago, the Blaugrana were expected to romp to their fourth trophy of the year in Yokohama. It seemed like a foregone conclusion after brushing aside Mexico's Club America 4-0 in the semifinals, before running into a spirited International of Brazil.

Belting out a sturdy, stringent gameplay, the minnows managed to keep out the likes of Deco and Ronaldinho for large spells into the match. But in the 82nd minute, the Porto Alegre outfit got the better of their mightier rivals and launched a counter-attack which Adriano Gabiru finished with nonchalance, knocking the stuffing out of the European champions.

Frank Rijkaard's side huffed and puffed for the remainder of the match, but failed to find the all-important equaliser, thereby sending shockwaves across the world as Internacional were crowned the world champions ahead of a star-studded Barcelona side.

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#2 Messi wins first Ballon d'Or by leading Barcelona to the sextuple

Estudiantes vs FC Barcelona : FIFA Club World Cup Final 2009
Estudiantes vs FC Barcelona : FIFA Club World Cup Final 2009

An all-conquering Barcelona side found the going really tough against Argentina's Estudiantes in the 2009 final. Having sailed through the previous round with a 3-1 defeat of Mexico's Atlante, Pep Guardiola's swashbuckling outfit were brought back to earth by a charged Rat Stabbers, who dealt with the mighty challenge in the shape of Barcelona, with aplomb.

Mauro Boselli's opener in the first-half left the Catalans chasing, but Pedro's equaliser in the penultimate minute of normal time soothed the frayed nerves. The game headed into extra-time and an impish Messi lurked out of nowhere to head home the winner 10 minutes from time as Barcelona walked away with their first ever Club World Cup trophy, completing the historic sextuple.

Though quiet for most of the night, that one winning moment set the twinkle-toed Barcelona forward on his way to his first Ballon d'Or that he would go on to claim next month, having played an instrumental role in all six of Catalan's titles that year.

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#1 Ronaldo's historic hattrick blows Kashima Antlers away

Real Madrid vs Kashima Antlers : FIFA Club World Cup 2016
Real Madrid vs Kashima Antlers : FIFA Club World Cup 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo burnished his big-game player status big time with that record-making hat-trick against Japan's Kashima Antlers last year. In the meantime, he also registered another record to his already bulging record-book, by becoming the first player to hit a hattrick in the finals of a Club World Cup.

Real Madrid's early opener from Karim Benzema was completely wiped out by a stunning brace from Gaku Shibasaki, scored across either half. The Spaniards were now the ones trailing. But cometh the hour, cometh Cristiano.

The Blancos No.7 stepped up with a penalty just 8 minutes later, forcing the game into extra-time. A double in the first one turned the tables around once again as Madrid fought back from 2-1 down to lead 4-2, and effectively put the tie to bed. Whereas Ronaldo, having only lifted his fourth Ballon d'Or then, just proved why he deserved it.

The Portuguese ace became the proud holder of another esteemed record in his illustrious career, belting out one of his best performances in the white of Madrid. And also one of the best in a final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith