Luis Suarez scored a double while Lionel Messi tapped in one goal for FC Barcelona, as the Catalan giants defeated the Copa Libertadores winners River Plate to claim their record third FIFA Club World Cup championship.

Barcelona got their opening breakthrough from Messi, who scored the first goal of the match in the 35th minute. River Plate were pretty disciplined at the back, but it was not enough, as Luis Suarez scored for the European Champions in the early moments of the second half and then sealed the tie with his second goal via a header from a Neymar cross.

By winning the final, Barcelona became the only team in history to win three Club World Cup championships, surpassing Corinthians, who won two titles before. Dani Alves, Messi, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta became the only players in world football to collect three championship medals.

According to telegraph.co.uk, around 16,000 River supporters made way for Yokohama from Buenos Aires, thus beating their previous record of having the most travelling supporters in the tournament. But, despite the huge support shown by the Argentinians, it was Barcelona who showed class all along the way.

Both Neymar and Messi started the final, reviving from groin strain and abdominal pain, respectively, after missing the semifinal. Catalan coach Luis Enrique fielded the same starting XI that faced Juventus in the Champions League final, with the only exception being Claudio Bravo starting over Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

River’s tactics was to press Barcelona from the start, which also included tactical fouling. Despite all the shackles placed by the River Plate defenders, Messi, Iniesta, Suarez and Neymar were constantly finding gaps to create goal scoring chances.

The only chances River got in the match was through set-pieces. Aside from the set plays, Rodrigo Mora and Lucas Alario tried a few long distance shots which were easy enough for Bravo to collect.

Suarez was named the top goal scorer of the tournament as he registered a total of five goals, while Barcelona ended a fantastic 2015, by collecting the Club World Cup along with the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Premiera Division Title and the Copa Del Rey.

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