Former Everton forward Salomon Rondon will attempt to win the FIFA Intercontinental Cup tonight with Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid standing in his way
Salomon Rondon of Pachuca celebrates with the FIFA Derby of the Americas Cup and FIFA Challenger Cup during the ceremony after winning the FIFA Challenger Cup Qatar 2024 match between CF Pachuca and Al Ahly at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, on December 14, 2024. (Photo by Ayman Aref/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Salomon Rondon of Pachuca celebrates with the FIFA Derby of the Americas Cup and FIFA Challenger Cup in Qatar. Tonight the ex-Everton striker will attempt to beat Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup(Image: Ayman Aref/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
If you needed another example of how there is life after Everton, then one came on Monday when Ademola Lookman, now thriving at Atalanta, for whom he scored a hat-trick in last season's Europa League final, was crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
Another example could come tonight. And it could be even more unlikely than Lookman's stunning rise.
Salomon Rondon was always on a bit of a hiding to nothing at Everton. Signed by Rafa Benitez in August 2021, his arrival on a free transfer from Dalian Professional in China signified that the years of wild spending under Farhad Moshiri had come to a shuddering halt.
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Then 31, the Venezuela international scored just three goals in 23 appearances in his maiden campaign at Goodison Park, including a brace in an FA Cup home win over non-league Boreham Wood after Benitez had been sacked and replaced by Frank Lampard.
But perhaps Rondon will be best remembered by his crazy sending off, just four minutes after coming on, in the penultimate home game of the season against Brentford.
The nine-man Blues, who had earlier saw Jarrad Branthwaite dismissed, lost 3-2, blowing their chance to seal Premier League survival.
Rondon apologised afterwards, saying: "I will always give my all on the pitch. I always want to help my club, team-mates and fans. I tried to do that today and know that I wasn't up to it in one incident and am truly sorry.
"My apologies from the bottom of my heart to the whole Everton family."
Fortunately, no damage was done, with the Blues, minus the suspended Rondon, coming from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 the following Thursday and spark scenes of unbridled joy at an electric Goodison as the club's relegation fears were banished.
The former West Brom and Newcastle United striker would play a further eight times for the club the following season before he departed by mutual consent in December 2022, six months before the end of his two-year contract.
Few would have expected what happened next.
In January 2023, Rondon joined South American giants River Plate, where he notched 10 goals in 37 games and won the Argentine Primera Division, before making the move across the continent to Mexico and Pachuca one year ago.
Safe to say the move has been an emphatic success.
Now 35, Rondon netted 19 goals in 28 matches last season, winning the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, a competition in which he finished as the top scorer.
A further seven goals have followed so far this season and tonight the well-travelled forward will attempt to help Pachuca beat the mighty Real Madrid - managed, of course, by former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, another man who has fallen upwards after saying goodbye to Merseyside - in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The inaugural tournament comprises the six clubs that won the previous edition of the continental championships in each FIFA confederation, running from September 22 to this evening.
Real Madrid, the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League winners, received a bye through to the final in Qatar, but Pachuca had to overcome 2024 Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo of Brazil, with Rondon scoring in a 3-0 victory, and then 2024 CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt.
A win over Ancelotti's star-studded side would cap a remarkable year for Rondon, who was also the second top-scorer at this summer's Copa America in the United States, where the Best Player Award went to another ex-Everton man enjoying a late-career revival in James Rodriguez.
Rodriguez and Rondon, along with Lookman, were among the 77 players nominated on the shortlist for The Best FIFA Men's 11, which was announced earlier this week. None got in - the team was: Emiliano Matinez; Ruben Dias, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, William Saliba; Jude Bellingham, Rodri, Toni Kroos; Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, Vinicius Junior - but any disappointment Rondon will have felt will soon be forgotten if they stun Real Madrid this evening.
Pachuca's victories over Botafogo and Al Ahly took place in Qatar earlier this month and earned the club the FIFA Derby of the Americas and FIFA Challenger Cup trophies.
Rondon, who scored twice and was player of the match in the 3-0 CONCACAF Champions Cup final win over Columbus Crew that sealed Pachuca's place in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, has been speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the big match with Madrid.
He said: "We came to Qatar intent on having a great tournament and ending 2024, which has brought us so much joy, in the best possible way. We have performed to our best. We came here as CONCACAF champions and we come away as champions of the Americas.
"We face a really tough match now but we go into it with great enthusiasm. I have already achieved some great things, but there are still a few days of the year. Real Madrid await us and that is a big motivation. I really hope we can sign off with a win."