35 La Liga titles. 19 Copa del Rey titles. 14 European Cups. 5 UEFA Super Cups. And now, 5 Club World Cups.
No club does it like Real Madrid. With a 5-3 win over Al-Hilal, the biggest club in the world became the first team in history to win five Club World Cup crowns and in doing so added another trophy to their glistening collection. Walking around their club museum now is like walking around IKEA - it takes several hours and instead of flat-pack furniture, there’s an endless supply of trophies to indulge in.
Los Blancos are the eternal winners.
READ MORE:
- Ten Hag's Man Utd revolution aided by rivals
- Super Bowl tips
- Real Madrid are 10/1 to win the Champions League with Betfred*
The Club World Cup is a relatively modern invention, first taking place in 2000. Real Madrid didn’t win their first until 2014, but since then, they’ve done what they always do. Dominated. Any trophy available to win is in their sights and as we saw with their incredible Champions League success last season - they simply know how to win trophies.
That Champions League win was arguably the most special of the lot. They were written off by many. They didn’t have Crisitano Ronaldo to fire in the goals and the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and PSG were all far stronger on paper, ready to steal their crown. But this is Real Madrid, and they simply don’t know how to lose.
The last 16 tie against Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar was the first star-studded test. With just 45 minutes to play, they were 2-0 down and looked down and out against one of the best teams in the world. Cue Karim Benzema and a stunning hat-trick that dragged Real Madrid through at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Another followed Stamford Bridge in the quarter-finals before Chelsea launched a staggering comeback in the Spanish capital. Once again in extra-time it was Karim the dream who came up with the winner. In the semi-final against Manchester City, for many the best team in the world, Madrid were down and out, needing two goals as the 90th minute approached in Spain.
Of course they pulled it off. Then they beat Liverpool in the final. PSG, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool - the toughest Champions League run of all time - and they’d beaten them all. They’ve got a squad that keeps evolving. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric may be in the twilight of their careers, but they are still putting in top performances and guiding through some of the best young midfielders in the world.
Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga are being given the perfect schooling and now look ready to take on that mantle, with a whisper that Jude Bellingham could join them this summer. Federico Valverde, who scored twice tonight, and Vinicius Jr who scored also scored a brace, have a decade at the top ahead of them and Benzema continues to perform at the highest level, netting again against Al-Hilal.
This is a very different team to the one that featured Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo. It has evolved again under Carlo Ancelotti and although Barcelona have taken an eight point lead in La Liga’s title race, who would rule Real Madrid out of European contention again this time around.
Their Champions League tie against Liverpool could be a firecracker between two of the most historic clubs in world football. Jurgen Klopp’s men are out of sorts, but even if they were on top form, they would face a tough task. Real Madrid are the eternal champions. As they proved again tonight, silverware is attracted to them.
Winning trophies is a habit they never want to shake off.
*18+ | Be Gamble Aware
