Image via Susana Vera/ Reuters
Real Madrid defeated Al-Hilal in the record-extending eighth-goal Fifa Club World Cup final to win the trophy in Rabat.
Before Karim Benzema’s goal, which was assisted by Vinicius Jr. and Federico Valverde, Moussa Marega offered Al-Hilal some hope.
Before Vinicius’ second goal, Luciano Vietto and Valverde each scored.
Vietto turned in the box before netting a second goal to make it 5-3, but Al-Hilal showed little sign of bouncing back.
Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti added to their four championships from 2014 to 2018 and made sure European teams won the previous ten competitions.
They had defeated Al Ahly of Egypt 4-1 in the semifinals, which is the phase into which the European champions always advance.
Al-Hilal, the defending Asian champions and led by former Oxford United manager Ramon Diaz, defeated Flamengo of Brazil in the semifinal to go to the title game.
Vietto, a former Fulham striker, scored twice, but they still fell short of being the first Asian team to win the competition.
Chelsea won the championship last year, but they were unable to defend it because only the current continental champions and winners of the host nation are permitted to compete.
From June 2025, the event will have a new format that will include 32 teams and be conducted every four years.