On December 18, the Lusail Stadium witnessed another historic night as Real Madrid claimed the FIFA Intercontinental Cup with a convincing 3–0 victory over Mexico’s Pachuca. The triumph marked a moment of redemption for Kylian Mbappé, who played a key role in the win two years after his World Cup heartbreak at the same venue.
Mbappé, who famously scored a hat-trick in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final but lost in penalties, found glory this time by opening the scoring in the 37th minute. Rodrygo doubled the lead in the 53rd minute, while Vinícius Júnior, fresh off winning FIFA The Best award, sealed the victory with an 84th-minute penalty.
Despite concerns over Mbappé’s availability due to a recent injury, he started the match and played until the 61st minute, showcasing his resilience and class.
The Intercontinental Cup, featuring champions from FIFA’s six confederations, served as a preview for the expanded Club World Cup planned for next year. Real Madrid’s dominance in the tournament solidifies their reputation as one of football’s greatest clubs.
