Spanish giants Real Madrid claimed their 21st international title on Sunday to surpass rivals Barcelona and Egypt’s Ahly in international accolades.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to inspire the European Champions to a 4-2 victory over Japanese hosts Kashima Antlers in a tough Club World Cup final in Yokohama.
Real started the year in third place with 18 titles; ending it with 21 after winning their 11th UEFA Champions League, third European Super Cup and their second Club World Cup; in addition to their previous two UEFA Cups and three Intercontinental Cups.
Egypt’s Ahly and Barcelona both won 20 titles.
Barcelona won five UEFA Champions League titles, five Super Cups, four Cup Winners’ Cups, three Inter-Cities Fairs Cups and three Club World Cups.
Ahly won their 20th continental title in late 2014, when they defeated Ivory Coast’s Sewe Sport in the final of the Confederation Cup, Africa’s second-tier club competition.
They also won eight African Champions League titles, six Super Cups, four Cup Winners’ Cups and one Afro-Asian Cup.