Manchester City won the Club World Cup for the first time on Friday, finishing 2023 with five titles after defeating Fluminense 4-0 in Jeddah.
City’s triumph extended European clubs’ dominance of the tournament since 2012, and it was never in question as Julian Alvarez scored within the opening minute.
Nino’s own goal in the first half effectively ruined the Brazilians’ hopes of an upset, before Phil Foden and Alvarez finished up the score in the closing 20 minutes.
Fluminense had hoped that City’s dismal Premier League record before coming to Saudi Arabia would make Pep Guardiola’s team susceptible.
However, the rising divide between Europe’s best clubs and the rest of the globe as a result of massive financial disparities in the global game was revealed.
European clubs have won 22 straight Club World Cup games.
In the semi-final, City battled Japan’s Urawa Reds for 45 minutes before cruising to a 3-0 victory.
They required less than 45 seconds this time.
Fluminense’s veteran players guided them through a tense semi-final against African champions Al Ahly. Former Real Madrid captain Marcelo handed possession to Nathan Ake with a bad pass, but it was one of their more seasoned brains that was at fault for the first goal.
From outside the box, the Dutch defender went forward and curled a superb attempt off the post. The rebound went to Alvarez, who chested into an open net.
At the age of 23, Alvarez added to his remarkable collection of silverware, which includes the World Cup and Copa America with Argentina, the Copa Libertadores with River Plate, and Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and UEFA Super Cup medals in just over a year at City.
Concerns about Rodri’s injuries
Fluminense were then handed the decisive blow when captain Nino turned Foden’s cross into his own goal after Rodri’s assist that had freed up the Brazilian defense.
Ederson was put into action to keep City’s two-goal advantage intact before the interval, making a remarkable stop from Jhon Arias’ header.
However, his polar opposite Fabio was the more active goalie. The 37-year-old kept the score low and rescued Fluminense from embarrassment.
Fabio deflected Jack Grealish’s powerfully hit shot before halftime and denied Foden again early in the second half.
City were able to glide through the second period to cap off a fantastic year, but success may come at a cost.
Rodri was taken off with 20 minutes remaining due to an injury. When the crucial Spanish midfielder has been missing, City have lost all three Premier League games this season, and they go to in-form Everton on December 27.
However, it did not dim the luster of a memorable 12 months that marked the pinnacle of City’s trophy-laden 15-year reign after a takeover by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
After winning the club’s first-ever Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup trebles previous season, City won the UEFA Super Cup for the first time in August.
Guardiola also created history by being the first coach to win the Club World Cup four times and with three different teams, having previously won the title twice with Barcelona and once with Bayern Munich.
Alvarez set up City’s third goal, with Foden sliding in to meet his drove cross.
And the guy filling in for the injured Erling Haaland scored his 10th goal of the season two minutes from time.