Wednesday 20 November 2019, 13:52

3 days to go: Real top of the world, Kashima steal hearts

Real Madrid won their second FIFA Club World Cup at Japan 2016, but they were made to work for it by surprise-package Kashima Antlers in the final. The plucky host club defied all expectation by dispatching three continental champions en route to the decider against Los Blancos.

After Karim Benzema had given Zinedine Zidane’s men an early the lead, Kashima hit back – and even took the lead during the second half thanks to a Gaku Shibasaki brace. But cometh the hour, Cristiano Ronaldo completed his hat-trick in extra time to ensure Real lifted their second Club World Cup title in three years.

The FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 gets under way on 11 December.