Cristiano Ronaldo hits 500th goal as Real Madrid reach FIFA Club World Cup final

New Delhi: Newly-crowned Ballon d`Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday scored his 500th club goal to help Real Madrid beat Mexico`s Club America 2-0 to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final in Yokohama, Japan.

After Karim Benzema provided the lead with a first-half stoppage time, Ronaldo scored the second goal of the match deep into the injury time.

The European champions will now play shock finalists, J-League champions Kashima Antlers at Yokohama International Stadium on Sunday for yet another title.

The 31-year-old Portuguese superstar picked up his fourth Ballon d`Or earlier this week, beating his bete noire Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi.

In a blockbuster year, the former Manchester United player won the UEFA Champions League with Madrid, then helped his country win an unlikely continental title at the 2016 Euro.

Yesterday, Antlers defeated Colombian outfit Atletico Nacional 3-0 at at the Suita City Football Stadium in Osaka to make the final.

The match witnessed first ever penalty awarded with the help of Video Assistant Referees (VARs). Soma Doi converted from the spot on the 33rd minute, then Yasushi Endo and Yuma Suzuki found two late second-half goals.