Real Madrid continued their trophy-laden year by securing their fifth title of 2024, defeating CONCACAF champions Pachuca 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Doha. The Spanish giants demonstrated their dominance with goals from Kylian Mbappé, Rodrigo, and Vinícius Júnior, sealing the victory in style.
The match saw a strong start from Pachuca, who had traveled to Doha two weeks prior and faced tough opponents, including Botafogo and Al Ahly, en route to the final. However, it was Real Madrid who took control of the game as it progressed.
Pachuca’s early efforts included a dangerous shot from the winger Osama Idrissi, which was expertly saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (5′). Moments later, Courtois was called into action again, denying a close-range shot from Alan Bautista (9′). Despite Pachuca’s pressure, it was Real Madrid who struck first.
The opening goal came in the 37th minute after a beautifully orchestrated move, with Federico Valverde setting up Vinícius Júnior, who then squared the ball for Kylian Mbappé to tap into an empty net. The goal marked Mbappé’s 13th of the season across all competitions.
Rodrigo doubled the lead in the 53rd minute with a stunning solo effort, beating multiple defenders before finishing expertly into the bottom corner. Initially, there was a brief review from VAR to check if Jude Bellingham had obstructed the goalkeeper’s view, but the goal was upheld.
Despite some valiant efforts from Pachuca, including a powerful shot from Colombian Nelson Deossa that Courtois saved (52′), Real Madrid’s dominance continued. Vinícius Júnior made it 3-0 in the 84th minute, converting a penalty after being fouled inside the box.
Vinícius also had a chance to add a second goal late in the match but was denied by Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno in a one-on-one situation (90′).
With this victory, Real Madrid adds another prestigious title to their 2024 collection, following their UEFA Super Cup and La Liga triumphs. The team now looks ahead to the upcoming season with continued ambition, as they aim for further glory both domestically and internationally.
In a post-match interview, Vinícius Júnior, who was named the best player of the final, expressed his joy: “I play for the best team in the world, and I am very happy with today’s title and all the titles we’ve won as a team. We always aim to win every possible title.”
