FIFA Club World Cup 2009: Barca is the champions of the world

Barcelona’s successful year continued after battling from a goal down to claim a 2-1 extra-time win over Estudiantes in the Fifa Club World Cup final.

The trophy, their sixth piece of silverware this year, had to be earned the hard way as they trailed at half time courtesy of Mauro Boselli’s header.

Pedro levelled matters late on before Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi secured the victory for Josep Guardiola’s side with a 110th minute winner.

Against Atlante in the semis, Barca found themselves trailing after just four minutes and they almost suffered a similar fate, Enzo Perez only just failing to get on the end of Juan Sebastian Veron’s through-ball in the fifth minute.

At the other end a superb back-heel from Zlatan Ibrahimovic put Xavi in the clear, but instead of shooting he opted for a pass inside and it was in front of both Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry.

Xavi’s attempted pass was deflected up in the air, and Barca centre-back Gerard Pique climbed high to head the ball into the path of the unmarked Pedro, whose looping header over Albil found the back of the net and sparked wild celebrations by the European side.

The goal also sent the match to extra-time, when Barca made all the running.

Messi and Ibrahimovic both failed to hit the target with decent openings in the first period, but it would be the former who would end up being the match-winner.

Xavi’s cross in behind the Estudiantes defence was latched onto by Messi and he dove forward to chest the ball past Albil and ensure yet another trophy would be heading back to the Camp Nou with record-breaking Barca.