adminIn the event, it was no contest — either between the two supreme talents or their teams — as Barcelona picked up their second world crown after winning the competition in 2009.
Messi, set up by Xavi, got the first after 17 minutes, before Xavi put Barcelona 2-0 up just seven minutes later to put them firmly in control, as prodigious forward Neymar struggled to get a sniff of the ball.
Cesc Fabregas, who pulled the strings in midfield, got the third on the stroke of half-time as the Spanish champions, who were at full-strength, threatened to run riot in front of a full house of 68 166.
Messi got his second eight minutes from time as he rounded the keeper to roll the ball in after the influential Dani Alves threaded the ball through to him.
Barca, who lost striker David Villa to a fractured shin in Thursday’s semi-final, had the better of an open first 15 minutes, Messi forcing a save out of Rafael Cabral after skipping a couple of half-hearted Santos challenges.
Shortly after that the Argentine was at it again, taking a dinked pass from Xavi and lifting the ball delicately over Cabral from just a few yards out to put the Catalans into an early lead at the International Stadium in Yokohama.
It was all Barca, so it was no surprise when they went further ahead on 24 minutes, fullback Alves driving down the right wing and cutting inside to set up Xavi, who rifled the ball past a horribly exposed Cabral.
Television cameras quickly focused on a glum-looking Neymar.
Still Barca and Messi kept coming. After 26 minutes he was denied by a terrific last-gasp tackle when through on goal, and three minutes later Fabregas struck Cabral’s near post after he was set up by Xavi.
But Fabregas and Barca would not be denied, as the former Arsenal man grabbed the third just before half-time after more good link-up play – including an audacious back-heel from the irrespressible Messi.
Less than a minute after the restart they should have gone 4-0 up when Fabregas, set up by Messi, saw his prodded effort on the run saved by Cabral, then Neymar went up the other end and headed over when he should have scored.
Belatedly, the Brazilian side were up for it after their coach Muricy Ramalho had sent them out onto the frigid pitch well ahead of their opponents.
Neymar should have found the net when clean through on goal just before the hour, but Victor Valdes saved well with his legs. It summed up the teenager’s night.
Earlier, Al-Sadd, who lost 4-0 to Barcelona in the semi-finals, beat Japanese champions Kashiwa Reysol 5-3 on penalties to take third place at the annual intercontinental tournament.
Nadir Belhadj drilled home the decisive kick after Ryohei Hayashi’s effort was saved to complete an amazing 12 months for Qatar, who were named as hosts of the 2022 World Cup last December.
Reysol struggled in attack on a chilly night despite being tidier in their build-up play with Al-Sadd equally toothless.
Shots were sliced horribly wide for throw-ins before Ibrahim Majid went close for the Qatari side with a dipping free kick in the 74th minute.
Meanwhile Barcelona star David Villa was in surprisingly good spirits despite suffering a broken leg.
The 30-year-old was carried off on a stretcher six minutes before half-time in Barca’s 4-0 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final win against Al Sadd after appearing to land awkwardly.
But Villa, who now faces a race to be fit for next summer’s European Championships, was pictured sharing a joke with club captain Carles Puyol and manager Pep Guardiola on Thursday night.
The news of Villa’s injury comes as a setback not only to Barca but potentially to world and European champions Spain, with their all-time record scorer’s availability for Euro 2012 now in doubt.
Guardiola said after the match: ‘He will now travel to Barcelona as soon as possible. He will be greatly missed as a colleague and as a player. I hope everything goes well.
‘He will be a long time. It’s a big blow to the team. We just hope that he can play again as soon as possible.
‘David is very dear to us. The injury has saddened us all. Everyone can put themselves in his place and know how they would suffer if it happened to them. They feel for him. We must accept it and encourage him in his recovery.’
Guardiola insisted now was not the time to discuss January reinforcements in the light of Villa’s absence.
‘Let us have compassion and respect,’ he said. ‘Let’s give it time. Now is not the time to talk about it.’
Guardiola had on Wednesday dismissed Spanish media reports linking Villa with a move away from the Nou Camp in the January transfer window with both Chelsea and Liverpool interested.
Sports newspaper Marca claimed the player was ready to move on from Barca just 19 months into the four-year deal agreed following his £34million transfer from Valencia.—Daily Mail.
Online Reporter