Manchester City face off with Brazilian side Fluminense in tonight’s FIFA Club World Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
Starting in 2000, the Club World Cup features the winners of each continental tournament going head-to-head to find out the best club side in world football.
City have never won the competition, but have the chance to add the final piece of silverware to their extensive trophy cabinet thanks to last season’s Champions League triumph.
But there are not just team accolades at stake for Pep Guardiola’s men. Two of his players could secure rare individual honours if they are victorious in Jeddah this evening.
Julian Alvarez’s Trophy Collection
Argentinian forward Julian Alvarez could become only the third player in history to complete a rare set of trophies. At just 23 years old, Alvarez already has winning medals from the World Cup, Champions League, Copa America and Copa Libertadores.
https://twitter.com/EHaaland_9/status/1738196247561843197
If he wins the Club World Cup with Manchester City tonight, he will join Brazilian icons Cafu and Dida in having won all five titles. The pair both lifted the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, before Champions League wins with Serie A side AC Milan.
Cafu won the Copa Liberatadores with Sao Paulo in 1992 and 1993, while Dida managed in in 1997 with Cruzeiro. Both were in the 1999 Brazil squad that won the Copa America, with Cafu also winning it in 1997.
Julian Alvarez has also won the FA Cup, Premier League and an Argentinian league title, all before his 24th birthday.
Kovacic Looking For Three-peat
In another superb achievement, Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic would become the first player in history to win the Club World Cup three times, with three different clubs.
The 29-year-old won the competition twice with Real Madrid, in 2016 and 2018. He then lifted the trophy with Chelsea in 2022, following their second ever Champions League win.
Kovacic has technically won the Club World Cup four times, but did not play in the 2017 final with Real Madrid. However, with four Champions Leagues, one La Liga title, three Croatian Championships and a Spanish Super Cup, he’s hardly short of silverware.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!