The seven greatest FIFA Club World Cup-winning teams of all time

The FIFA Club World Cup is the only tournament where elite squads from every corner of the globe face off for the right to call themselves world champions. 

Every edition brings drama, intrigue and world-class talent. And many have seen some of the finest teams in football history add to their legacies.

Here, DAZN News lists the seven greatest teams to ever win the FIFA Club World Cup, iconic sides who left a mark on the global stage.

 

 

7 – Chelsea (2021)

• Key Players: Kai Havertz, N’Golo Kante, Thiago Silva, Edouard Mendy, Mateo Kovacic
• Final Result: Chelsea 2-1 Palmeiras (AET)
• Golden Moment: Havertz’s ice-cold extra-time penalty

After their 2012 Club World Cup loss to Corinthians, Chelsea returned to the tournament with a point to prove. And they delivered.

Facing a dogged Palmeiras side, the Blues were pushed to the edge. Romelu Lukaku’s header gave them the lead, but a Rafael Veiga penalty sent it to extra time. 

Then came Havertz, cool as ever, burying a penalty in the 117th minute to win Chelsea their first Club World Cup.

Kante bossed the midfield, Thiago Silva was immense at the back and Mendy, fresh from winning AFCON, made key stops. 

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6 – Corinthians (2012)

• Key Players: Cassio, Paulinho, Danilo, Paolo Guerrero
• Final Result: Corinthians 1-0 Chelsea
• Golden Moment: Guerrero’s header shocks the Blues

Corinthians are still the only team to beat a reigning European champion in the Club World Cup final during the modern format. 

Their 2012 upset over Chelsea was the stuff of legend – a tactical masterclass backed by thousands of traveling fans who made Yokohama feel like Sao Paulo.

Paolo Guerrero’s headed goal sealed a 1-0 win, but the real hero was Cassio, the goalkeeper who shut down wave after wave of Chelsea attacks. He won the Golden Ball and became a national hero overnight.

South American teams have often struggled to compete physically and tactically with Europe’s best, but Corinthians proved grit, discipline and passion still mattered. 

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5 – Manchester United (2008)

• Key Players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs, Edwin van der Sar
• Final Result: Manchester United 1-0 LDU Quito
• Golden Moment: Rooney’s goal with 10 men on the pitch

United had tried to conquer the world before, famously finishing third in 2000. But in 2008, fresh off their Champions League win, Sir Alex Ferguson finally got his Club World Cup.

The tournament in Japan saw United edge past Gamba Osaka in a thrilling 5-3 semi before facing LDU Quito in the final. Despite Vidic getting sent off, United found a way and Rooney’s late goal gave them the win.

Ronaldo was instrumental in attack and the midfield balance of Michael Carrick and Anderson gave them control. It wasn’t always beautiful, but it was gritty, determined and very Fergie.

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4 – Barcelona (2009)

• Key Players: Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Pique, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
• Final Result: Barcelona 2-1 Estudiantes (AET)
• Golden Moment: Messi’s chest-controlled winner in extra time

Before 2011’s masterpiece, Barcelona’s 2009 squad had to fight to lift their first Club World Cup title. Facing Estudiantes, a rugged and disciplined Argentine side, Guardiola’s men were forced into extra time.

With Barça trailing late, Pedro equalized in the 89th minute before Messi, playing as a false nine, popped up with a chest-and-finish goal that sealed the trophy in the 110th minute.

It was the final trophy of their famous sextuple and a warning to the world that the Messi-Xavi-Iniesta axis was about to dominate for years. This win was less about style and more about resilience. And that made it even more memorable.

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3 – Bayern Munich (2020)

• Key Players: Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich, Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies
• Final Result: Bayern 1-0 Tigres UANL
• Golden Moment: Benjamin Pavard’s winner after a stunning Neuer-Kimmich combo

Winning six major trophies in a calendar year? That’s legendary stuff. Only Bayern Munich in 2020 and Barcelona in 2009 have done it. But Bayern’s run, capped off by the Club World Cup, felt like the exclamation point.

They didn’t blow out opponents, but they didn’t need to. Hansi Flick’s side was ruthless and machine-like. They edged out Tigres with a 1-0 win, thanks to Pavard’s goal, but the bigger picture was their global domination from start to finish that season.

Lewandowski, who scored in the semi and ran the show up front, was named the tournament’s best player. This Bayern team had no weaknesses. 

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2 – Real Madrid (2017)

• Key Players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Toni Kroos
• Final Result: Real Madrid 1-0 Gremio
• Golden Moment: Ronaldo’s decisive free-kick in the final

When it comes to the Club World Cup, no one has dominated like Real Madrid. They’ve won the tournament a record five times (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023), but the 2017 team might have been the most complete.

Coming off their Champions League and La Liga double, Zinedine Zidane’s side were ruthless, creative and mentally bulletproof. They beat Al Jazira in the semi-final before shutting out Gremio in a tight final, with Ronaldo — who scored in both matches — taking home the Golden Ball.

Madrid’s midfield trio of Modric, Kroos and Casemiro was unplayable, and their backline led by Ramos brought stability. 

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1 – Barcelona (2011)

• Key Players: Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Dani Alves
• Final Result: Barcelona 4-0 Santos
• Golden Moment: Messi’s brace in the final vs Neymar’s Santos

If 2011 Barcelona wasn’t the best club team ever assembled, they’re in the conversation. And they proved it on the world stage by absolutely dismantling Santos in the final. The hype around a teenage Neymar meeting Messi’s Barca quickly turned into a lesson in football IQ and movement.

Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta tore through Brazil’s best like it was a training drill. Goals from Messi (2), Xavi, and Fabregas completed a 4-0 thrashing in Yokohama that could’ve been more.

What made this team special wasn’t just the results – it was the philosophy. Possession, pressing, precision. Pep Guardiola’s side played a different sport and the world watched in awe.

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Honourable Mentions:

• Liverpool (2019): A historic first win with Roberto Firmino’s late goal against Flamengo.
• Internacional (2006): Took down Ronaldinho’s Barcelona in one of the biggest shocks of the decade.
• Sao Paulo (2005): Denied Liverpool in the final thanks to a heroic display from keeper Rogerio Ceni.

 

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