Club World Cup: Chelsea Complete Trophy Collection As Kai Havertz Cements Status As Club Legend

Kai Havertz cemented his status as a Chelsea legend by scoring the winner in the Club World Cup final. Chelsea have now won every trophy they have competed for.
Club World Cup: Chelsea Complete Trophy Collection As Kai Havertz Cements Status As Club Legend
Club World Cup: Chelsea Complete Trophy Collection As Kai Havertz Cements Status As Club Legend /

Chelsea have now won every major trophy they have ever competed for after adding the FIFA Club World Cup to their list of honors.

The Blues had lost to Corinthians at this stage of the tournament on their only previous appearance in 2012.

But they made amends a decade on as Romelu Lukaku and Kai Havertz scored in a 2-1 win over another Brazilian side in Palmeiras.

Chelsea were unable to find top gear in Abu Dhabi but they took the lead 10 minutes into the second half.

Lukaku, scorer of the winning goal in Chelsea's semi-final win over Al Hilal on Wednesday, planted an excellent header into the top corner following a cross by Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Chelsea players celebrate with the FIFA Club World Cup trophy
Chelsea were celebrating global glory on Saturday after winning the FIFA Club World Cup :: IMAGO/Action Plus
Romelu Lukaku is mobbed by his Chelsea teammates after scoring in the FIFA Club World Cup final against Palmeiras
Romelu Lukaku was mobbed by his teammates after giving Chelsea the lead in the final :: IMAGO/Action Plus

Chelsea led for less than 10 minutes before Palmeiras were awarded a penalty kick for handball against Thiago Silva, who would later be named Player of the Tournament.

Raphael Veiga stepped up and sent Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy the wrong way to level the contest and eventually send it to extra time.

Mendy had been involved in a penalty shootout less than a week earlier, when his Senegal side came out on top against Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

And it looked like this final was heading for a shootout too, before Cesar Azpilicueta's shot hit the arm of Luan Garcia with six minutes of extra time remaining.

The referee did not point to the spot straight away but the VAR review was swift.

Azpilicueta looked like he wanted to take the kick himself. But after a long delay - largely due to attempted mind games by Palmeiras players - he gifted the ball to Havertz.

Palmeiras fans pictured during Club World Cup final against Chelsea in 2021
Palmeiras fans made a lot of noise at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi :: IMAGO/Action Plus
Thiago Silva receives the Player of the Tournament award at the FIFA Club World Cup
Thiago Silva received an individual trophy after being named Player of the Tournament :: IMAGO/Action Plus

The German converted brilliantly before picking up a yellow card for getting carried away in his celebration.

The drama was not finished there though and again Havertz was involved.

With Palmeiras overcommitted in attack, Havertz had a chance to make it 3-1. He was denied by what initially looked like an excellent tackle.

But another VAR review showed that Garcia had fouled Havertz and denied him a goalscoring opportunity.

Garcia doubled his misery, adding a red card to his earlier concession of a penalty.

The game ended moments later, meaning Havertz had a double too.

The 22-year-old had scored the winning goal in the UEFA Champions League final and now the FIFA Club World Cup final.

If that is not deserving of club legend status, what is?


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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.