FEBRUARY 12: Vinicius Jr and Federico Valverde put Real Madrid up 2-0 and Moussa Marega gave Al-Hilal hope before Vinicius set up Karim Benzema’s goal.
Valverde scored again and Luciano Vietto scored before Vinicius’s second.
Vietto spun in the box before firing within a second for 5-3, but Al-Hilal rarely seemed to come back.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real added to their four cups from 2014 to 2018, and ensured that European teams have won the last 10 editions of the tournament.
They had beaten Egyptian side Al Ahly 4-1 in the semi-finals, the round in which European champions always participate.
Asian champions Al-Hilal, led by former Oxford United manager Ramón Díaz, beat Brazilian Flamengo in the semi-finals to become the first Saudi team to reach the final.
But despite former Fulham striker Vietto’s brace, they failed to become the first Asian team to lift the trophy.
Chelsea won last year’s final but were unable to defend it as only the reigning continental champions and the champions of the host country are invited.
FIFA plans to change the format of the tournament from June 2025 so that it has 32 teams and is held every four years.
