Romelu Lukaku gave the European champions the lead shortly after the break in Abu Dhabi, before Raphael Veiga got their Brazilian opponents back on level terms from the penalty spot.

The game appeared to be heading for penalties before Luan handled the ball inside the area with five minutes remaining, allowing Kai Havertz to convert from 12 yards and net the decisive goal just like he did in May's Champions League final.

The Premier League giants have now won every major competition in their history, making up for the disappointment of losing the final of this tournament just over nine years ago.

Kai Havertz scores a penalty for Chelsea against Palmeiras in Club World Cup final on February 12, 2022. © Reuters

The returning Thomas Tuchel had made four changes to his starting lineup in the hope that Chelsea would improve on their mixed performance during the semi-final on Wednesday, but it was more of the same from the Blues who struggled to carve out any real openings.

At the other end, Palmeiras looked lively on the break with Dudu flashing a shot wide of the post, and Chelsea's frustration grew as Mason Mount was forced off through injury.

Towards the end of the opening period, Thiago Silva saw a 30-yard strike helped behind for a corner, although the centre-back's strike had already been going wide.

Romelu Lukaku scores for Chelsea against Palmeiras in the Club World Cup final on February 12, 2022. © Reuters

After the restart, it was much of the same from Chelsea until Lukaku opened the scoring with a bullet header from eight yards, the Belgian finding the far corner after meeting Callum Hudson-Odoi's exquisite cross from the left.

Chelsea began to pile on the pressure with Christian Pulisic sending a low drive marginally wide of the post, but it took just eight minutes for Palmeiras to get back on level terms.

Silva, via VAR, was deemed to have handled the ball when attempting to head clear a cross, and Veiga made no mistake from the penalty spot as he sent Edouard Mendy the wrong way.

Raphael Veiga celebrates scoring for Palmeiras against Chelsea in the Club World Cup final on February 12, 2022. © Reuters

As the game started to open up, Veiga sent a low effort straight at Mendy, before good work from N'Golo Kante led to Pulisic sending the ball inches past the post from 16 yards out.

Throughout the closing quarter of normal time and for the majority of extra time, both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances, but Chelsea were given a chance to regain their lead when Luan blocked a Cesar Azpilicueta volley with his hand inside the area.

With Jorginho not on the pitch, it was Havertz who stepped up to confidently convert the spot kick into the bottom left corner, subsequently sealing a famous triumph before Luan was later dismissed for a professional foul on the German.