5️⃣ iconic moments from FIFA Club World Cup history | OneFootball

While this summer's expanded FIFA Club World Cup promises to be bigger and better than ever, the tournament already has 25 years of history behind it.

Here are five iconic moments from the Club World Cup's story so far.

2000 - The first world champion is crowned

📸 Shaun Botterill

The inaugural FIFA Club World Cup took place in the year 2000, and was hosted rather fittingly in Brazil.

Real Madrid striker Nicolas Anelka scored the competition's first ever goal in a clash with Al-Nassr, while Champions League holders Manchester United were eliminated at the group stage following a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Vasco da Gama.

Vasco in fact went all the way to the final, which was an all-Brazilian affair against Corinthians.

And it was Corinthians who prevailed in a penalty shoot-out at Maracanã, to become the historic first ever winners of the FIFA Club World Cup.

2006 - Barcelona stunned in Yokohama

📸 TORU YAMANAKA - 2006 AFP

Brazilian clubs are probably more passionate about the Club World Cup than their counterparts from any other nation on the planet, and in 2006 the trophy was lifted by a club from Brazil for the third time, following Corinthians' success in 2000 and São Paulo's victory over Liverpool in 2005.

But Internacional's triumph in 2006 remains arguably the biggest shock the Club World Cup has ever seen, coming as it did against a Barcelona team featuring the likes of Ronaldinho, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi.

A late goal from Adriano Gabiru was enough for the Porto Alegre club to win the final in Yokohama, sending the Blaugrana home gobsmacked.

2009 - Barcelona make history

📸 KARIM SAHIB

There was of course more to come from Barcelona in the Club World Cup, and three years later saw one of the crowning moments of Pep Guardiola's era at the Camp Nou helm.

Having already won the LaLiga title, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the European and Spanish Super Cups earlier in the year, Barça headed to Abu Dhabi aiming to become the first club in history to lift six trophies in the same calendar year.

But they were made to work hard for it, with Copa Libertadores holders Estudiantes taking the lead after 37 minutes of the final.

And that was how the scoreline stayed until a dramatic 89th-minute equaliser from Pedro took the final to extra-time, where Lionel Messi became the history-making hero with a 110th-minute winner, just days before winning the first Ballon d'Or of his career.

Barcelona's incredible 2009 feat has so far only been matched by Bayern Munich, who also completed the six-trophy clean-sweep by winning the Club World Cup in 2020.

2010 - Almost this time for Africa

📸 KARIM JAAFAR - 2010 AFP

The Club World Cup has so far been won by clubs from Brazil, Italy, England, Spain and Germany.

But like the international World Cup, the trophy is yet to be lifted by a club representing the continent of Africa.

We came close to seeing it happen in 2010, when Congolese outfit TP Mazembe became the first African nation to reach the Club World Cup final. Unfortunately for them, they came up against Champions League holders Inter, and were duly dispatched 3-0.

And we came close to seeing it again in 2013, when Moroccan side Raja CA faced Bayern Munich in a final on home soil, but again the European club prevailed, this time 2-0.

This year four African clubs - Egypt's Al Ahly, Morocco's Wydad, Tunisia's Espérance and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns - will be bidding to become the first in history to lift the hallowed trophy. Good luck to all of them.

2014-2018 - Kings of the World

📸 Francois Nel - 2017 Getty Images

Only four clubs have lifted the Club World Cup on more than one occasion.

Corinthians won it in 2000 and 2012, Bayern Munich won it in 2013 and 2020, and Barcelona won it three times between 2009 and 2015.

But the undisputed Kings of the Club World Cup would have to be Real Madrid, who have so far won it five times, and also won the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup back in December last year.

Remarkably, four of those five Club World Cups came during a five year spell between 2014 and 2018, when Los Blancos were not only chalking up an incredible run of Champions League triumphs, but also adding world titles to boot.

They may not have been able to win a 16th Champions League in 2025, but who would bet against Madrid adding a record sixth Club World Cup to their name in the United States this summer?

📸 KAZUHIRO NOGI