Yokohama: Lionel Messi broke the deadlock and Luis Suarez scored twice in the second half to give Barcelona an emphatic 3-0 win over River Plate, in the Club World Cup final, on Sunday.

South American champions River, whose side cost only around $5.43 m in transfer fees, did enough to worry the European champions for the first half hour but were never in the contest after falling behind. Messi, playing against an Argentine team for only the second time in his career, showed superb control to turn in Neymar's header after 36 minutes.

Uruguay forward Suarez burst clear of the River defence four minutes after halftime and headed another from a pin-point Neymar cross to take his tally in the tournament to five goals. River, backed by 15,000 fanatical supporters, made a promising start with Rodrigo Mora and Lucas Alario both getting into good shooting positions but producing weak efforts, which were easily saved by Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Messi had already been denied by Marcelo Barovero before scoring the opener and his goal was the cue for Barcelona to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

The European champions, fielding six South American players in their starting line-up, sliced through the River defence and looked as if they could score with almost every attack as they went on to win the title for the third time.

Suarez latched onto Sergio Busquets' brilliant ball over the top to double their lead and then added his second with a header from Neymar's cross.

Uruguay striker Suarez finished the tournament with five goals in two games after scoring a hat-trick in the 3-0 semi-final win over Guangzhou Evergrande. Less than a year ago Luis Enrique was reported to be on the verge of being sacked, but the club's board stuck by him and since then they have won five of the six possible trophies 2015 had to offer.

Only a Spanish Super Cup defeat by Athletic Bilbao denied them the chance to match the 2009 sextuple under Pep Guardiola.

They are among the table-toppers of La Liga and are also in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey and Champions League - as they bid to do it all again in 2016. Barcelona have scored 176 goals this year - a new club record. They have one final game to add to it - at home to Real Betis in the league on 30 December.

River Plate started quite brightly in the Yokohama International Stadium. But once Barca's front three got going, they had no hope.

(Reuters)