On June 19, 2025, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the footballing world was left in awe after witnessing another spectacular free kick from the legendary Lionel Messi.
The Argentine has proven why he’s considered the greatest footballer of all time after scoring a superb goal past FC Porto’s shot stopper Claudio Ramos in the 54th minute, giving Inter Miami the lead and helping secure their first three points in the Club World Cup.
The goal ensured the MLS club stood a chance of going through to the next stage of the competition as they climbed to second spot in Group A, level on points with Palmeiras, who are ahead on goal difference after two matches played.
Resilient Comeback after Early Setback
Facing FC Porto after playing out a 0-0 draw against Al Ahly in the first game of the competition was already a tough task, and going 1-0 down in the 8th minute made it more difficult.
However, Inter Miami, led by World Cup winner Lionel Messi, showed resilience and strength to overcome the deficit.
Messi, who had faced Porto twice before in his career – first in a 2-0 loss with Barcelona during a 2003 friendly to inaugurate Porto’s Estádio do Dragão, and later in a UEFA Super Cup clash where Barça triumphed 2-0 – was hoping their third meeting would tilt in his favour.
Inter Miami had gone behind early in the first half after defender Noah Allen appeared to have tripped João Mario just inside the penalty area.
The foul was not spotted immediately by the on-field officials, but after a VAR review, referee Cristian Marcelo Garay felt there was sufficient contact to award a penalty to the Portuguese side and Spanish youngster Samu Aghehowa stepped up to convert it past Oscar Ustari.
As the first half progressed, both teams threatened in front of goal.
Messi orchestrated a swift counterattack, threading a clever pass to Luis Suárez, but the former Barcelona forward couldn’t make clean contact and his weak shot was easily gathered by the goalkeeper.
Despite Inter Miami enjoying more ball possession, they found it hard to create clear-cut chances, with Porto’s goalkeeper Ramos standing tall.
At the other end, Porto came close to extending their lead on several occasions, only to be denied by a mix of misfortune and last-ditch defending, as efforts rattled the woodwork or were heroically cleared off the line.
The second half saw a more compact Miami side who played with more urgency as tactical adjustments made by Head Coach Javier Mascherano sparked new life into the side.
Just three minutes after the restart, Venezuelan Telasco Segovia pulled Inter level as he lashed home a thunderous shot after a cutback from Marcelo Weigandt to bring his side back into the game.
And seven minutes later, up steps Messi, to convert a free kick 20 yards from the goalpost, turning back the clock and curling in his 68th career free kick, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance of saving the ball.
The final 30 minutes of the game saw the Portuguese side pile pressure on Inter Miami as they went in search of the equalising goal.
Both Samu Aghehowa and Fabio Vieira tested Oscar Ustari with shots from the edge of the box, but they failed to trouble the goalie.
Yet, despite Porto’s relentless pressure, Inter Miami’s defence stood strong to secure a hard-fought victory.
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Messi’s Impact and Inter Miami’s Rise
Messi, whose impact since joining the MLS side has been nothing short of remarkable, has had a significant impact on the club, taking them from last on the table to securing the championship.
And with the win against Porto, he’s on track to seal a third trophy for his club since joining in July 2023.
Lionel Messi, reunited with former teammates Jordi Alba, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets, has revolutionised the league, boosting its visibility, competitiveness, and attracting significant investment.
Messi, the club’s all-time leading scorer, reached 50 goals in 61 appearances across all competitions with his strike against Porto.
During his tenure with the club, Messi guided the team to the 2023 Leagues Cup title, earning MVP honours and finishing as the top scorer with 10 goals in seven matches.
He also won the MLS Supporters Shield in 2024, with his brace against the Columbus Crew in a 3-2 win, securing the trophy.
As the Club World Cup unfolds, Inter Miami’s journey is far from finished and with the magic man Messi in fine form, the MLS side will fancy their chances against any opponent.
Their next group match will be against Brazilian side Palmeiras, who will test their mettle further as they’ll come up against a young, fierce and highly rated player in Estevao Willian, who has won back-to-back man of the match awards in this competition.
But the belief flowing through the Inter Miami squad is palpable. For fans, the dream of seeing Miami lift the trophy is alive, fueled by the genius of their No. 10.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date: 19.06.2025