ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lionel Messi scored an extra-time winner as Barcelona beat Estudiantes 2-1 yesterday to win the Club World Cup, the European champions’ sixth trophy of 2009.

Golden Ball winner Messi chested Daniel Alves’ cross into the goal in the 110th minute to secure victory in front of 43,050 fans at the Zayed Sports City stadium.

Estudiantes had gone ahead in the 37th minute through Mauro Boselli’s header before the Spanish champion’s late pressure paid off as Pedro Rodriguez headed home an equaliser against the South American champions in the 89th minute.

Barcelona’s bench erupted in celebration after the come-from-behind victory, while Estudiantes players looked on in disbelief or slumped to the ground.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola wept as his team prepared to lift the trophy, while counterpart Alejandro Sabella said Pedro’s late equaliser stunned his team, which nearly equalised in the dying moments through Leandro Desabato.

“We were so very near to achieving our dream,” Sabella said. “What hurts most is that they tied it with only minutes to play.”

Midfielder Xavi Hernandez called it a “historic” night.

“It’s going to very dificult,” Xavi said about defending the six titles. “When you look back in history you see there is only us who have done it (won six trophies in one year).”

The Copa Libertadores champions, looking for their first global title since 1968 when it was known as the Intercontinental Cup, kept Messi subdued until extra time, when the speedy Argentine ran at the defence constantly before cutting across the area to meet Alves’ perfect pass. It was Messi’s 16th goal this season.

Barcelona’s victory allowed them to add the one missing piece of silverware to their already full trophy cabinet following final defeats in 2006 and 1992. They had already won the Champions League, Spanish league, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercup and European Supercup this year.

“When you go up against a team like Barcelona, a defeat is always the most probable result,” Sabella said.

Barcelona scored a deserved equaliser after dominating the second half, led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pedro, who seized on Gerard Pique’s flicked-on header in the area to lob the ball over goalkeeper Damian Albil.

The two sides traded early chances before Boselli slipped between defenders Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal to steer Juan Manuel Diaz’s cross from the left into the net at the near post.

With Estudiantes able to keep Messi and Xavi Hernandez subdued early and with Andres Iniesta missing due to injury, Guardiola brought Pedro on for Seydou Keita to start the second half as Estudiantes sat back to defend and an animated Guardiola roamed the sidelines.

“It was very intense. We were losing and there was very little time left,” Guardiola said though a translator. “At half-time I told them they had to be strong, we were too soft until then. A final like this deserved better fight.”

Both Ibrahimovic and Pedro came close to an equaliser on a couple of occasions before finally making the breakthrough against the tiring Argentines.

“We suffered a lot to that point. They contained us very well for the first half,” Xavi said. “But then that great goal from Pedro arrived and changed everything.”

Earlier, Asian champions Pohang Steelers of South Korea beat Mexican club Atlante on penalties to finish third.