Lionel Messi produced a moment of magic as Inter Miami came from behind against Porto in Atlanta to pick up their first victory at the 2025 Club World Cup.
Messi netted a sublime free-kick – his 50th goal in a Miami shirt – to give the MLS side a 2-1 win after trailing at the break to an early Samu Aghehowa penalty.
Telasco Segovia fired home the equaliser immediately after the restart before the 37-year-old Argentine, who had earlier belied his age with a series of wonderful passes to set up Luis Suarez for several chances, put his stamp on the game on 54-minutes.
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Messi’s strike was his 68th direct free-kick goal, putting him now just two behind Pele and nine behind Juninho.
The result means Inter’s progress to the tournament’s Round of 16 is still in their hands. Javier Mascherano’s men take on Palmeiras, who won 2-0 earlier in the day, in a game that could see Messi and co. top Group A with victory.
Porto, meanwhile, will be frustrated after a promising start to the contest. They take on Al Ahly knowing they must win to have any hope of qualification.
A night to remember in Atlanta 💗🖤 pic.twitter.com/E2nHYnRJmH
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) June 19, 2025
Porto straight out the traps
Messi and Suarez led the line for Miami and it was their partnership that yielded the game’s first chance. Inside two minutes, Messi picked the ball up on the right, cut inside before lofting a pass towards his former Barcelona teammate.
A stretching Suarez, however, could only find the legs of Porto keeper Claudio Ramos and the ball rolled out for a corner.
The 38-year-old striker went close again moments later from another Messi pass but it was Porto who broke the deadlock on eight minutes when Samu Aghehowa scored from the penalty spot after Joao Mario was adjudged to have been tripped by Noah Allen.
7′ ⚽ GOAL! From the penalty spot, Samu opens the score in Atlanta for @FCPorto! 💙
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MIAFCP pic.twitter.com/CI4FySoR80
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 19, 2025
But despite his team falling behind, Messi continued to dazzle. The Miami captain was again the architect of another Suarez chance on 18-minutes, feeding the ex-Liverpool man but, once again, his effort could only find the body of Ramos.
The Portuguese stopper again came to Porto’s rescue 10 minutes before the break, standing tall to keep out Benjamin Cremaschi’s low drive.
At the other end, Oscar Ustari showed off his goalkeeping credentials, saving first from Samu Aghehowa after the goalscorer went on a bustling run down the left before showing lightning reactions to keep the ball out after Porto midfielder Alan Varela’s 20-yard strike cannoned back off the post.
Messi magic puts Miami in ascendency
After the restart, it took Miami all of 90 seconds to draw level. Marcelo Weigandt’s cut back from the byline fell to the feet of Segovia and the Venezuelan made no mistake with the finish, rifling the ball high into the net to make it 1-1.
The goal – the MLS outfit’s first in the competition – sparked Miami into life. Porto, meanwhile, were now on the back foot.
Messi curled a 30-yard free-kick a few inches wide. It proved to be a warning shot. Just moments later, the Miami captain stepped up and bent in a sublime set-piece from just outside the box for his 50th club goal.
53′ ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? 🐐
Messi scores a GORGEOUS free kick goal and @InterMiami are now leading 2-1 versus @FCPorto!
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MIAFCP pic.twitter.com/KvshKKFrrY
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 19, 2025
As the net bulged, a fierce noise erupted inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In the space of seven second-half minutes, Group A had been turned on its head.
Buoyed by some Messi magic, the momentum was now firmly with Miami. In a bid to salvage something from the game, Porto boss Martin Anselmi rang the changes.
One such replacement, William Gomes, nearly equalised with his first touch but Ustari was brave to smother the ball at his feet.
Samu Aghehowa then headed wide but Porto failed to find a breakthrough. For Miami, their journey in the Club World Cup looks set to continue.
