Real Madrid won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup after beating Mexico’s Pachuca 3-0 in a largely one-sided final in Qatar, with Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr all on target.
The Spanish giants did just enough to win comfortably on Wednesday and never looked likely to cede control, despite allowing the CONCACAF champions to threaten occasionally from counter-attacks at Lusail Stadium.
The Champions League winners opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a fine team goal that started with Jude Bellingham passing to Vinicius Jr, who ran past the goalkeeper before putting it on a plate for Mbappe, who tapped it into the empty net.
Rodrygo extended their lead with a lovely effort in the 52nd minute when he beat two defenders before cutting back inside and curling a fine strike into the top corwith his right foot.
Vinicius Junior, who won the FIFA Best men’s award on Tuesday, wrapped up an easy win for Real from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute after Oussama Idrissi fouled captain Lucas Vazquez inside the box.
The 65-year-old Ancelotti has one of the most decorated CVs in world football.
When he was lured back to Madrid for a second spell three years ago, following the departure of club great Zinedine Zidane, he knew that his only mission was to increase Real’s trophy haul and he has not disappointed.
He became the first manager to capture titles in each of Europe’s top five leagues — England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France — and has guided Real Madrid to two Champions League and LaLiga doubles in three seasons.
Ancelotti’s Real Madrid silverware includes three Champions League titles, two Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, two Spanish League titles, two Spanish Cups, two Spanish Super Cups and, now, one Intercontinental Cup title.
Source: Al Jazeera