Lionel Messi grabbed a classy brace as the “artists” of Barcelona out-classed the Brazilians Santos 4-0 to lift the Club World Cup yesterday and confirm their status as the best team on the planet.

The clash between the European and South American champions in Japan had been billed as a showdown between Messi, widely acknowledged as the best player in the world, and 19-year-old Brazilian sensation Neymar.

In the event, it was no contest – either between the two supreme talents or their teams – as Barcelona picked up their second world crown after winning the competition in 2009.

Barca boss Pep Guardiola called his men “artists” and dedicated the 13th title in his three-and-a-half years in charge to striker David Villa, who flew home after fracturing his shin in the semi-final and faces months out.

“We missed him very much. I talked to him a lot (since the bad injury) and I want to talk to him tonight,” said Guardiola, full of praise for his side who wore t-shirts in honour of their missing team-mate.

“They were like artists,” he said, turning to their spectacular performance. “What was envisioned in their minds happened on the pitch.”

Messi, set up by Xavi, got the first after 17 minutes, before Xavi put Barcelona 2-0 up just seven minutes later to put them firmly in control, as prodigious forward Neymar struggled to get a sniff of the ball.

Cesc Fabregas got the third on the stroke of half-time as the Spanish champions threatened to run riot for the full house of 68,166.

Messi got his second eight minutes from time as he rounded the keeper to roll the ball in after Dani Alves threaded the ball through to him.

“We are extremely happy and our performance, especially in the first-half, was very satisfactory,” said Guardiola.

Third place play-off: Al Sadd vs Kashima 0-0 (Al Sadd win 5-3 on penalties).

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