The Intercontinental Cup continued to live on even after FIFA promoted and held the Club World Cup with 32 teams, thus giving club football two global champions.
After Chelsea, which won the Club World Cup this summer, the champion "according to the old system" is Paris Saint-Germain.
The "Saints" won the intercontinental crown for the first time in history in the final played in Al-Rayyan, Qatar, after 120 minutes of great struggle (1:1) and a penalty shootout in which Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov shone (he saved four penalties). The result in the penalty shootout was 2:1.
The guy from Krasnodar reminded us of Helmut Dukadam, a Steaua legend, who also saved four penalties in the 1986 Champions Cup final against Barcelona.
In total, it is the sixth trophy for Luis Enrique's team this season, something only Barcelona (2009) and Bayern (2020) have previously achieved, and it could have been the seventh if the team from Paris had not lost the final of the aforementioned World Cup to Chelsea.
The "Saints" took the lead in the 38th minute - after an assist from Desiré Due, Hviča Kvaracheli scored the goal.
Luis Enrique's team had possession of the ball even after that, but Filipe Luis's men were dangerous every time they got close to the French team's goal.
Flamengo equalized after just over an hour of play - Giordano de Arascaeta outwitted Marquinhos, and the PSG captain fouled him in the penalty area. After a VAR check, referee Ismail Elfat pointed to the penalty area, and penalty master Žoržinjo was sure from the penalty spot (1:1).
A great battle was fought until the end of the 120th minute, but Paris Saint-Germain was not specific enough, and Flamengo knew how to protect their goal, but also to threaten on the other side.
The final was ultimately decided by penalty shootout - Safonov "enchanted" the Brazilian club's players, saving penalties from Saul Niguez, Pedro, Leo Pereira and Luiz Araujo. The only safe player in the South American champions' ranks was Nicolas de la Cruz in the first series.
The European champions did not celebrate from the penalty spot either, the best footballer in the world, Ousmane Dembele, missed (high above the goal), as did Bradley Barkola, while the only safe ones were the Portuguese Vitinho and Nuno Mendes.
Enough for PSG to crown the best year in the club's history.
Bonus video:
