2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final

Event

2011 FIFA Club World Cup

Santos	Barcelona

0	4

Date

18 December 2011

Venue

International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama

Man of the Match

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Referee

Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

Attendance

68,166

Weather

Clear night
9 °C (48 °F)
42% humidity

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The 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final was the final match of the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup, a football tournament hosted by Japan. It was the eighth final of the FIFA Club World Cup, a FIFA-organized tournament between the champion clubs from each of the six continental confederations as well as the league winner from the host nation.

The final was played between CONMEBOL's champion Santos and UEFA's champion Barcelona. Barcelona defeated Santos 4–0 and won their second FIFA Club World Cup, two years after they won their first one in 2009.

The match was billed as a showdown between Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and the 19-year-old Santos forward Neymar. Messi won the "duel" by scoring two goals in the final and being named man of the match as well as player of the tournament.

Barcelona forward David Villa missed the final after he broke his shinbone in the semi-final victory over Al-Sadd. He was injured six minutes before half-time after appearing to land awkwardly; Barcelona announced after the match that he had suffered a "fracture to the tibia in his left leg" that could see him sidelined for four to five months.

In the first half, Barcelona were extremely dominant. Messi and Thiago forced saves from Santos goalkeeper Rafael in the 12th minute. Messi then scored with a chip over Rafael in the 17th minute. Seven minutes later, Xavi scored a second with a strike from just inside the penalty area. Santos came back with a short-range effort by Borges that was saved by Barcelona 'keeper Víctor Valdés, before Cesc Fàbregas hit the post two minutes later and then scored Barcelona's third goal just before the half ended.

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