Manchester City Become Fourth English Team To Win FIFA Club World Cup

Manchester City officially became world champions on Friday.

Pep Guardiola's men beat Brazilian side Fluminense 4-0 in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final.

Julian Alvarez's ninth goal of the season gave City an early lead in Jeddah.

A Nino own goal then doubled City's advantage in the 27th minute.

Phil Foden put the result beyond doubt in the second half before Alvarez scored again late on to wrap up a convincing victory.

Julian Alvarez pictured (second from left) celebrating with his Manchester City teammates after scoring a goal against Fluminense in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final

IMAGO/Bildbyran/Joel Marklund

Friday's result means that the last 11 FIFA Club World Cup champions have all come from Europe.

However, City are only the fourth English club ever to win the tournament - after Manchester United (2008), Liverpool (2019) and Chelsea (2021).

Guardiola has now won the Club World Cup as a manager with three different teams - Barcelona (2009 and 2011), Bayern Munich (2013) and City (2023).

Pep Guardiola has now won the FIFA Club World Cup four times as a manager

IMAGO/NurPhoto/Jose Breton

It took Manchester City just 40 seconds to take the lead against Fluminense on Friday.

Alvarez improvised to score using his chest after Fluminense keeper Fabio had tipped a long-range effort from Nathan Ake onto the post.

Alvarez's unusual finish helped him set a new Club World Cup record for the earliest ever goal in a final.

Prior to Friday, that record had been held by Brazilian defender Dante, who scored for Bayern Munich just six minutes and 21 seconds into the 2013 final against Raja Casablanca.

Alvarez's opening goal was the earliest ever in a FIFA Club World Cup final

IMAGO/NurPhoto/Jose Breton

Friday's victory came just three days after City overcame Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 in the semi-finals.

Fluminense won 2-0 against Egypt's Al Ahly in the other semi-final.

Al Ahly then beat Urawa 4-2 in the third-place playoff.

City's Club World Cup victory was achieved without star men Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku.

Those three players all traveled with their teammates to Saudi Arabia but did not get a minute of game time after being omitted from City's 23-man squad due to injury issues.

City captain Kyle Walker pictured lifting the Club World Cup trophy

IMAGO/NurPhoto/Jose Breton