In a match that defied expectations and rewrote history, Lionel Messi delivered a trademark moment of brilliance to inspire Inter Miami to a remarkable 2-1 comeback victory over Portuguese giants Porto in the Club World Cup on Thursday.
The win, sealed with a sublime second-half free-kick from the Argentine legend, not only puts the Major League Soccer side in strong contention to advance from Group A but also marks the first competitive win by an MLS team against European opposition.
Played under the roof of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the encounter began with Porto asserting early dominance. Their pressure paid off in the eighth minute when a controversial VAR decision resulted in a penalty.
Miami’s Noah Allen was judged to have fouled Joao Mario with minimal contact in the box. Spain international Samu Aghehowa confidently converted the spot-kick, sending Oscar Ustari the wrong way, despite the Miami goalkeeper managing to get a hand on the ball.
Porto, with their traditional European pedigree, controlled much of the first half, creating several chances to extend their lead. Aghehowa nearly struck again, only to be denied by Ustari, who also managed to scramble the ball to safety after Alan Varela’s thunderous shot hit the post and rebounded off the goalkeeper’s back.
Despite the one-way traffic, Inter Miami were not without moments of promise. Luis Suarez, fed through beautifully by Messi, forced a save from Porto’s Claudio Ramos, though the offside flag had already been raised.
Benjamin Cremaschi also tested Ramos, while defender Maximiliano Falcon produced a heroic header off his own goal line to deny Rodrigo Mora, keeping Miami within touching distance heading into the break.
The tide turned swiftly at the start of the second half. Telasco Segovia, perfectly positioned in the box, lashed home Marcelo Weigandt’s low cross to bring Inter Miami level, stunning the Porto bench and fans alike. The equaliser sparked life into the MLS side, and within minutes, the stadium erupted.
In the 54th minute, Messi earned a free-kick just outside the box after being fouled in a dangerous area. Rising to the occasion, the 37-year-old maestro placed the ball with precision and curled an unstoppable shot into the top right corner—classic Messi, the type of strike that has graced the biggest stages for over two decades.
As the ball nestled into the net, even the previously sparse crowd had filled in to witness the brilliance of a player many consider the greatest of all time.
From that point, it was about grit and resilience. Under the watchful eye of head coach Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami adopted a combative approach, throwing bodies in the way of Porto’s attempts to claw their way back into the game.
The announcement of seven minutes of added time drew audible groans from the crowd, but Miami’s defense, led by Falcon and supported by Ustari’s commanding presence in goal, held firm.
With this result, Inter Miami and Brazil’s Palmeiras now sit atop Group A with four points each, after the South American side defeated Al Ahly 2-0 earlier in the day. Porto and Al Ahly are left with one point apiece and now face an uphill battle to progress.
Founded in 2020 and co-owned by football icon David Beckham, Inter Miami’s rise has been rapid, particularly after Messi’s high-profile arrival in 2023. Thursday’s victory adds a historic feather to the club’s cap and signals a possible shift in the global football landscape.
Though the match kicked off with just half of the stadium filled—likely due to the midweek 3:00 p.m. slot—attendance grew steadily as fans poured in, drawn by the chance to witness Messi’s magic. By the final whistle, nearly 32,000 had gathered, and they were not left disappointed.
What You Should Know
Lionel Messi’s decisive free-kick secured Inter Miami’s first-ever competitive win against European opposition, defeating Porto 2-1 in the Club World Cup. The victory places the MLS side in a strong position to progress from Group A and cements Messi’s enduring impact in global football, even at 37.
