Watch Cristiano Ronaldo's hat trick deliver Real Madrid the Club World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo saved Real Madrid from a stunning defeat in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday, scoring a hat trick against the Kashima Antlers, including the decisive two goals in extra time.
Real were shockingly behind the Japanese underdogs at the hour-mark of the final after two goals from Gaku Shibasaki had completed Kashima’s comeback from Karim Benzema’s 9th-minute opener.
That’s when Ronaldo woke up.
Real’s superstar had a quiet night until he coolly slotted home a penalty kick to level the score at 2-2.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/810453502753312768
The match then became a wide-open affair for the final half hour, with Ronaldo having a goal ruled out for offside and Kashima wasting several good chances to win it late in regulation. Extra time arrived, and that’s where Ronaldo took over.
First, Ronaldo slipped between two defenders and was picked out by Benzema to give Real the 3-2 lead:
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/810463800918847488
Then, shortly after Kashima had hit the crossbar on the other end, Ronaldo put the final away with his third of the night, completing the first ever hat trick in this format of the Club World Cup.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/810465334159257601
Ronaldo’s heroics delivered Real their second Club World Cup, one behind Barcelona for the most all-time. It was also Real’s 37th straight match without a loss and 26th since the start of the season, both new club records.
Ronaldo meanwhile is now the first player ever to win the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the European Championship (with Portugal) and the Ballon d’Or in the same year.
MORE FROM FOX SOCCER
