Messi and Suarez eye Ronaldo's Club World Cup throne

Though now played under a revamped format — one that is set to gain prestige over time thanks to its added competitiveness — the Club World Cup continues to recognise the statistics accumulated under the old system.

And at the top of the all-time goal-scoring chart still sits Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted seven goals in eight appearances across four editions. That record, however, is under serious threat, with Messi and Suarez both firmly within striking distance.

Ronaldo's tally was amassed entirely under the previous format. He scored once in 2008 for Manchester United against Gamba Osaka in the semi-finals.

With Real Madrid, his first appearance yielded no goals, but in 2016, he added one against Club America in the semis and a hat-trick in the final against Kashima Antlers. In his final outing in 2017, he struck once against Al Jazira and again in the final versus Gremio.

Those seven goals remain the benchmark. Behind him are four players on six goals: Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. With Benzema absent and Bale retired, only the two Inter Miami forwards are in a position to match or overtake the Portuguese icon.

Both have taken advantage of the current edition. Suarez entered the tournament with five goals, all scored in 2015 for Barcelona — a hat-trick against Guangzhou Evergrande in the semi-finals, followed by a brace in the final against River Plate.

After drawing blanks against Al Ahly and Porto, the Uruguayan finally found the net against Palmeiras, drawing level with Messi on six goals apiece.

Messi, meanwhile, first scored at the Club World Cup in 2009, netting against Atlante in the semis and again in extra time of the final versus Estudiantes to seal the title for Barcelona.

In 2011, he scored twice in the final against Neymar’s Santos, and added another goal in the 2015 final against River Plate. Until this year, he hadn’t scored in the competition since. But his stunning free-kick against Porto brought him up to six — level with Suarez and just one behind Ronaldo.

Others remain within touching distance as well, notably Real Madrid's Fede Valverde and Al-Hilal's Salem Al-Dawsari, both sitting on five goals. Valverde will have the opportunity to add more in the quarter-final clash with Juventus.

For now, though, all eyes are on Messi and Suarez — two legends of the game, one goal short of rewriting the Club World Cup record books.