Real Madrid needed a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick and extra time to beat a brave Kashima Antlers 4-2 and become world champions for a record fifth time.
Sergio Ramos returned to Madrid’s defence, having missed Thursday’s 2-0 win against Club America in the semi-finals, but there was to be no Cristiano Ronaldo celebration from the outset for Kashima’s Yuma Suzuki.
Los Blancos needed just nine minutes to take the lead as Luka Modric’s low shot was parried straight to Benzema, who looped home the rebound first time.
Benzema then fired a low shot towards the bottom-right corner of Hitoshi Sogahata’s net, but the goalkeeper tipped the Frenchman’s effort around the post.
Mitsuo Ogasawara, meanwhile, cracked one from some way out, which flew inches over Keylor Navas’ bar.
It was a promising response from Kashima, whose courage duly paid off. Gaku Shibasaki profited from a deflection off Raphael Varane and smashed the ball past Navas.
Valued at just 2m by Transfermarkt, Shibasaki sensationally proceeded to skip past a Madrid jersey and hit a shot low and hard past Navas from outside the box.
‘Ramos time’ couldn’t come sooner for Madrid, who had been playing at the tempo of a preseason friendly and were deservedly behind.
However, they got a helping hand through Shuto Yamamoto, who took down Lucas Vazquez in box. Up stepped Ronaldo, who pinged the penalty into Sogahata’s bottom-left.
Ronaldo then attempted a daisy-cutter, which was saved by Sogahata at his near post, before Ramos volleyed over from a corner.
Los Merengues were dealt a worry, however, when Navas slammed into Ramos full throttle in the air after he charged out of his box to intercept danger.
Ramos was left dazed and needed a moment to regain his composure, but that he did and Ronaldo soon had the ball in Kashima’s net, only for him to be correctly adjudged offside.
Two more chances for the Portuguese saw him glance a header just over and angle a shot from a breakaway that Sogahata saved with his legs.
With that, the Japanese side had weathered the storm and began pressing high. Substitute Fabricio unleashed a thunderous shot on the half-volley that Navas needed to tip over, the custodian then making another vital save from point-blank range.
Controversy rained down on Yokohama when Ramos fouled from behind to stop a counterattack. Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe immediately went for his pocket but then hesitated, opting to simply lecture the defender, who was already on a booking.
That decision seemed to affect Kashima’s psyche as Madrid pounced in extra time, Ronaldo springing the hosts’ offside trap before firing a finish past Sogahata.
The former did hit the bar from a free kick, yet Ronaldo got his treble after he took on Kroos’ wayward shot and blasted the ball home from close range.
The victory marked Zinedine Zidane’s third final victory and as many trophies since taking charge of Madrid back in January.
Real Madrid 4-2 Kashima Antlers
Benzema 9, Ronaldo 60, 97, 104 (RM) Shibasaki 44, 52 (KA)
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos (Nacho 108), Marcelo; Modric (Kovacic 106), Casemiro, Kroos; Vazquez (Isco 81), Benzema, Ronaldo (Morata 112)
Kashima Antlers: Sogahata; Nishi, Ueda, Shoji, Yamamoto; Endo (Ito 103), Nagaki (Akasaki 114), Ogasawara (Fabricio 68), Shibasaki; Kanazaki, Doi (Suzuki 88)
Referee: Sikazwe (ZAM)
