1 FIFA Club World Cup

Lore & Background

Manchester United won their second world title, following the 1999 Intercontinental Cup, also held in Japan. The tournament was the first in which the CONMEBOL representative did not come from Argentina or Brazil.

In Their Own Story

The artificial turf at the International Stadium Yokohama felt different underfoot than Old Trafford's hallowed grass, but the weight of expectation was identical. As the clock ticked into extra time, the scoreline read 1-0 to Estudiantes, a reality that threatened to turn a triumphant tour into a bitter defeat. The air was thick with humidity and tension. Then came the moment: a loose ball fell to Paul Scholes on the edge of the box. With a calmness that belied the chaos around him, he struck it first-time. The ball screamed into the top corner, silencing the Argentine roar and igniting a frenzy among the travelling Red Army. Minutes later, the final whistle didn't blow; instead, the game stretched on until destiny intervened. A cross floated in from the right, a sea of bodies surged forward, and Cristiano Ronaldo, the man who had carried the team all season, leaped higher than anyone else. His header was a cannonball that found the net. The stadium erupted, not just for a goal, but for a title that said one thing clearly: Manchester United were the best on Earth.

Reader's Guide

The tournament featured seven teams from FIFA's six continental confederations. The fifth-place match was reintroduced after being dropped in 2007. Total prize money was US$16.5 million, with the winners receiving US$5 million.

Did You Know?

• The 2008 FIFA Club World Cup was officially known as the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 presented by Toyota.
• Defending champions Milan did not qualify, having been eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League.
• The final was played at the International Stadium in Yokohama on 21 December 2008.