Barcelona vs. River Plate: Winners and Losers from FIFA Club World Cup
Barcelona became the first club to win the FIFA Club World Cup three times, as they swept aside River Plate 3-0 in the 2015 final in Yokohama, Japan.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring after 35 minutes at the International Stadium Yokohama, volleying home with his left foot after Neymar had headed the ball toward him.
Luis Suarez doubled Barcelona's lead early in the second half, latching on to a long pass from Sergio Busquets to score.
The Uruguayan then took his tally in the tournament to five goals by heading home Neymar's cross after 67 minutes.
Bleacher Report has picked out the winners and losers from the one-sided final.
Winner: Luis Suarez
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Barcelona forward Luis Suarez proved to be big in Japan.
The Uruguay international followed up his hat-trick in the semi-final against Guangzhou Evergrande with a brace in the victory over River Plate.
The former Liverpool player’s first goal was fired home via a deflection off River Plate goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero, and his second was a guided header into the net from Neymar’s perfect cross.
Per Squawka Football, Suarez has now scored 46 goals for his club in 61 competitive outings during the calendar year.
Loser: The Final as a Spectacle
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For the sixth year in a row, the FIFA Club World Cup final saw only one of two competing sides find the net.
Once Barcelona broke the deadlock, there was a sense of inevitability about the outcome of the 2015 showpiece.
River Plate pushed their midfield higher up at the start of the second half, a tactic that immediately backfired, as Luis Suarez broke free to double the advantage.
The Spanish side's comfortable triumph meant the winners of the UEFA Champions League have lifted the global trophy eight times in the last nine years.
Winner: Neymar
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Neymar made his return to action in the final, playing 89 minutes against River Plate.
The Brazilian had arrived in Japan with a groin injury, and manager Luis Enrique was unwilling to gamble on one of his stars, per ESPN FC: "I am not a fan of taking risks."
However, Neymar—who played against Barcelona in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup final when he was at Santos—was deemed fit enough to face River Plate.
He created two goals in his comeback, heading the ball to Lionel Messi in the first half before setting up Luis Suarez's second of the game with a pinpoint cross.
Losers: River Plate
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If the clash between the champions of Europe and South America had been a boxing match, the referee would have stepped in long before the final bell.
River Plate made an impact on Barcelona, but it was mostly by harassing and fouling them. According to OptaJose on Twitter, Barcelona won 15 fouls in the first 45 minutes alone, the most at half-time this season.
However, River Plate failed to make much of an impression as an attacking force.
Marcelo Gallardo's team—who struggled to see off Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their semi-final—did hit the post late in the game, but they were well beaten by then.
Winners: Barcelona
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Winning the FIFA Club World Cup for a record-breaking third time was an impressive way for Barcelona to end a phenomenal 2015.
It was the fifth trophy of the calendar year for Luis Enrique's side, having already won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.
Barcelona also created a bit of club history in the 3-0 win over River Plate.
According to OptaJose on Twitter, "Barcelona have scored 176 goals in this year. They have broken the club's all-time goal record in a calendar year set on 2012."
Winner: Lionel Messi
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After sitting out the game against Guangzhou Evergrande due to illness, Lionel Messi made sure he left his mark on the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup with the opening goal in the final.
There was a suspicion he may have handled the ball before volleying in 10 minutes before half-time, as he allowed Neymar's header to run across his body, then twisted around to strike it into the right side of the net with his left foot.
According to Eurosport on Twitter, the forward has now won an astonishing 26 trophies in his Barcelona career. That lengthy roll of honour includes three FIFA Club World Cups—and he has scored in every final.
