Italian giants AC Milan overwhelmed Argentina's Boca Juniors 4-2 in the Club World Cup final on Sunday to win a record fourth intercontinental crown.
Prolific striker Filippo Inzaghi scored twice, either side of goals from defender Alessandro Nesta and Kaka, as Milan added to their 1969, 1989 and 1990 titles.
Boca's Rodrigo Palacio was on target in the first half and Pablo Ledesma's shot bounced off a defender into the net five minutes from time to keep the scoreline respectable for the South American champions. The second Boca goal was initially ruled an own goal by Milan's Massimo Ambrosini.
"We have obtained everything we should as a team," said Kaka after the Rossoneri added the Club World Cup to the European Champions League and Super Cup titles they have already won this year.
"One phase in my life has ended. I want to move toward another phase and win all these titles again," said the 25-year-old Brazilian. Inzaghi thanked Kaka for setting up his two goals.
"Kaka was just excellent. He scored one himself and helped me with my goals," said the 34-year-old, who scored a record 63th goal in European competition against Celtic in a Champions League match before coming here.
"It has been a great year for me," he added. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "I really thank God for this year as we won the trophy which is so hard to get. This is the very end of our long and tough road. We were able to finish the task with the best result." It was Milan's 18th international victory after their seven Champions League and European Cup titles, two Cup Winners' Cups and five European Super Cups. The win also avenged Milan's defeat on penalties to the Argentineans in the final of the 2003 Intercontinental Cup, the Club World Cup's previous incarnation. "I don't like the word 'revenge,'" said Kaka. "In 2003, we lost and it was history. Now we won and made history."
Ancelotti said: "This trophy gives us a lot of satisfaction, especially as we lost to Boca Juniors when we played them last, and we avenged that loss today."
Milan's victory also helped restore European pride. Brazilian teams have swept the competition since it was created by merging with the Intercontinental Cup. Sao Paulo beat Liverpool in 2005 and Internacional whipped Barcelona last year. Inzaghi opened the scoring in the 21st minute but the strike was cancelled out by Palacio's leaping header a minute later. Nesta met a Clarence Seedorf free-kick shortly after half-time to put Milan ahead, with Kaka doubling their advantage with a superb dribble and shot before Inzaghi's second on 71 minutes.
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