Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick as Real Madrid C.F claimed their second FIFA Club World Cup and to fire the European champions to their third Club World Cup crown in two years, though their spirited opponents J.League champions Kashima Antlers more than held their own.
Cristiano Ronaldo rose to Real Madrid's rescue with a hat-trick to fire them past Kashima Antlers 4-2 after extra time in the final to clinch the 2016 Club World Cup title at the International Yokohama Stadium in Japan.
The European champions took the lead against the J.League title winners - the first Japanese club to appear in the last two the hosts were made to work hard the UEFA Champions League winners for their world title by a spirited Kashima. After Karim Benzema opened the scoring on nine minutes, a Gaku Shibasaki double fired the Asian side into a dramatic second-half lead, and showing fantastic skill to put his side ahead in the 52nd minute.
Ronaldo hat-trick sees off spirited Kashima.
But the Real Madrid's coach Zinedine Zidane's men found a way back through Ronaldo's penalty on the hour mark, after Shuto Yamamoto scythed down Lucas Vazquez in the box Ronaldo restored parity with a penalty, the Portugal superstar, was the newly-crowned Ballon d'Or winner's decisive double in extra time that finally broke all resistance and be crowned world champions for the second time in three years.Cristiano Ronaldo became only the second player to score a hat-trick in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup or Intercontinental Cup - Pele is the other - as well as the first to win the Club World Cup, UEFA Champions League, European Championship and Ballon d'Or in the same year in 2016.
The trophy is Real Madrid's second Club World Cup success and the fifth time they have been crowned FIFA Club World Champions.
Congratulation to world best in 2016 Real Madrid and CR7.