Real Madrid deserve their place on top of the world

Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale; the two are men for finals. It was Ramos who rescued the Decima dream with his last-minute header in Lisbon against Atletico. It was Bale who won them the Copa del Rey.

Ramos set Real Madrid on their way again here in the Club World Cup final against San Lorenzo with a characteristic header as he did in the semi-final against Cruz Azul. Then Bale vanquished the challenge of the Argentine scrappers.

Having shaken off an injury to start, in a competition he has never won, there can be no doubt about Ramos’ attitude or hunger for success – collective or individual. He is a man who has won it all and still needed this – the Club World Cup.

Bale, who still has his doubters, cannot be reproached. The Spanish Cup, the European Champions League and now the Club World Cup; his goalscoring powers are expanding outwards. The €100 million man does not always look the superstar signing he was bought to be but when it counts, he shows up.

That Real can lavish such sums on Bale, and another €80m on James Rodriguez this summer, neatly illustrates the vast disparity between the European champions and San Lorenzo, kings of South America. It would have taken something very rare indeed for Edgardo Bauza’s side to have upset the form book. It was not to be for San Lorenzo or their estimated 10,000-strong support who made the expensive trip from Buenos Aires more out of hope than expectation.

Now, we have the proof. There can be no questioning of Real Madrid’s status as the best team in the world. San Lorenzo are by no means the yardstick for that particular honour but this was a ceremonial game; a coronation for Real Madrid – for all they achieved in 2014.

The Copa del Rey was won with Gareth Bale galloping down the line before scoring one of the best goals in the tournament’s history. La Decima was clinched after 12 agonising years.

But if you think Real Madrid’s pre-eminence comes easily then cast your mind back to the years between 2005 and 2010. Not only did Real Madrid fail to win the Champions League, they did not once go beyond the last 16.

Then there was Pep Guardiola and Barcelona’s dominance of the landscape and all the animosity fostered between Catalunya and the capital.

It was easy to forget that Real Madrid should be on top of the world. They were the biggest institution but not the best team. But now, they are back.

This year was exceptional even by their historical standards. The Copa, la Decima, the European Super Cup and this, the Club World Cup.

Carlo Ancelotti is presiding over something very special indeed. Real Madrid can enjoy their Christmas. But the work continues. It’s not long until their friendly in Abu Dhabi against AC Milan. Then there are fixtures against Valencia in the league and Atletico in the cup. Then the Champions League, which has not been retained under its current guise, will roll around again. The trick is not in the winning but in the repeating.

There will be very little time to savour this for Real, their players and their fans but they finish 2014 exactly where they deserve to be. On top of the world.

GOAL.COM