Real Madrid triumphed over Mexican side Pachuca with a commanding 3-0 win in the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday, etching another glorious chapter in the club's storied history. The victory not only marked Madrid’s fourth title in the competition but also crowned Carlo Ancelotti as the most successful coach in the club’s history, with an unprecedented 15 trophies.

Ancelotti, 65, expressed his joy following the win: “It’s a great achievement. We didn’t start well, but we ended the game strongly with fantastic team spirit.” The Italian coach was recently honored as the men’s coach of the year at FIFA’s "The Best" awards, adding another feather to his illustrious career.

A Stellar Performance by Madrid’s Stars

Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Vinícius Júnior each found the net, securing Madrid's place as the most successful club in the Intercontinental Cup. The Spanish giants previously won the competition in 1960, 1998, and 2002.

Mbappé, making his return after recovering from a thigh injury, opened the scoring in the 37th minute with an assist from Vinícius. Rodrygo doubled the lead in the 53rd minute with a precise shot, while Vinícius, named the men’s player of the year on Tuesday, sealed the victory by converting an 84th-minute penalty.

Ancelotti’s Record-Breaking Journey

Ancelotti’s record-breaking 15th title surpasses the achievements of legendary Madrid coach Miguel Muñoz, who managed the team during the 1960s and 1970s. Impressively, 11 of Ancelotti’s titles have come during his second tenure with the club, which began in 2021. His first stint, from 2013 to 2015, saw him secure four trophies, including a Champions League title.

Pachuca Falls Short

Despite their strong showing in earlier rounds, Pachuca was unable to break their title drought in the Intercontinental Cup. The Mexican club had advanced to the final by defeating South American champions Botafogo and Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the tournament held in Qatar.

Real Madrid, as the European champions, entered the final directly without playing preliminary matches. This year’s edition of the Intercontinental Cup also introduced a new format as FIFA prepares to expand the Club World Cup to 32 teams in 2025.

With this latest triumph, Real Madrid continues to solidify its reputation as one of the most dominant clubs in football history. Having already won the Club World Cup five times, the Spanish powerhouse shows no signs of slowing down.