In his first competitive match against a European club since departing Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the 2022-23 season, Lionel Messi made a resounding impact by scoring the game-winning goal for Inter Miami, securing a 2-1 victory over Portuguese side FC Porto in the FIFA Club World Cup group stage.
The match, held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, began with early drama as Porto opened the scoring in the 8th minute. Striker Samu Omorodion converted a penalty after VAR confirmed a foul by Miami defender Noah Allen on Joao Mario.
Despite trailing at halftime, Miami responded immediately in the second half. Telasco Segovia, playing on the wing for the Herons, netted the equalizer just after the break, leveling the score at 1-1.
The spotlight then shifted to Messi, who turns 38 next week. In the 54th minute, the Argentine legend stepped up for a 25-yard free kick. True to form, Messi curled the ball past Porto goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos, sending it into the top corner to give Inter Miami a 2-1 lead. The goal proved decisive, as Miami held off a late surge from Porto to claim all three points.
Statistically, Porto outshot Miami 14 to 10, but their finishing fell short. Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was called into action just three times, demonstrating the Portuguese side’s inefficiency in front of goal.
This win marked a strong showing for Major League Soccer clubs in the tournament. Miami had opened the 32-club competition with a 0-0 draw against Al Ahly of Egypt, while fellow MLS teams Seattle Sounders and LAFC narrowly lost their openers to Botafogo and Chelsea, respectively. (Seattle later hosted Atlético Madrid.)
With four points from two matches, Inter Miami now sits in a strong position to qualify for the 16-team knockout stage. A draw in their final group match would be enough to secure advancement. They will face Brazilian powerhouse Palmeiras on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
