What looked like a routine afternoon for Portuguese giants Porto turned into a headline-grabbing night for Inter Miami—all thanks to a familiar left boot.
Lionel Messi’s signature free-kick helped the MLS club pull off a stunning 2-1 comeback win in the Club World Cup, proving that underdogs can still bite.
Inter Miami Punches Above Their Weight in Group A
With this result, Inter Miami now shares the top of Group A with Brazil’s Palmeiras, both sitting on four points. Palmeiras had earlier defeated Egypt’s Al Ahly 2-0.
Meanwhile, Porto and Al Ahly are stuck at one point each and now face a tough climb to the next round.
Porto Strikes First But Misses Chances
Things started well for Porto, who were awarded a soft penalty early on after a VAR review showed slight contact between Miami’s Noah Allen and Joao Mario.
Samu Aghehowa made no mistake from the spot, despite Miami keeper Oscar Ustari getting a hand to it.
Porto looked in control for most of the first half. Aghehowa and Rodrigo Mora both came close to doubling their lead, and Alan Varela rattled the post.
Ustari was under siege but stood firm, with a little help from defender Maximiliano Falcon, who made a crucial clearance off the line.
Miami Finds Their Feet After the Break
Javier Mascherano’s squad came out with renewed energy in the second half.
Within minutes, Marcelo Weigandt whipped in a dangerous cross, and Telasco Segovia pounced to blast Miami level.
That goal cracked the game wide open and energized the MLS side, but the real magic was yet to come.
Messi’s Moment of Brilliance Seals the Deal
In the 54th minute, Messi was brought down just outside the box.
As the crowd held its breath, he stepped up and curled a sublime free-kick into the top right corner—classic Messi.
It was his moment, his match, and once again, he delivered when it mattered most.
“It’s a huge joy. The whole team worked hard,” Messi said post-match. “We knew we were the underdogs, but we showed our strengths.”
Suarez, Ustari and the Rest Hold the Line
Luis Suarez, now 38, had a couple of golden chances throughout the game, fed through beautifully by Messi. He came close but couldn’t convert.
Despite that, his presence helped open up space for others.
In goal, Ustari had a standout night, especially in the first half, with clutch saves and gutsy clearances under pressure.
Miami’s First Competitive Win Against European Opposition
This match marked a major milestone—not just for Inter Miami, but for Major League Soccer as a whole.
It was the first competitive win by an MLS team against European opposition in the Club World Cup.
The only other MLS vs Europe matchup this tournament saw Chelsea comfortably beat LAFC.
David Beckham’s co-owned Inter Miami, founded in 2020, is clearly no longer just a novelty.
Since signing Messi in 2023, the team’s global profile has soared—and now their results are catching up.
Messi Draws the Crowd—Eventually
Despite Messi’s star power, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was only half-full at kick-off, likely due to the inconvenient weekday 3:00 p.m. start.
But fans poured in as the match progressed, with nearly 32,000 in attendance by the end, all eager to witness the magic of one of football’s greatest.
Miami Defends Like Mascherano Would Be Proud
With seven minutes of stoppage time announced, Porto threw everything forward.
But Miami’s defense, clearly channeling their coach’s combative spirit, threw bodies in the way of every shot. It was gritty, it was tense, and it worked.
“We knew Messi would come through,” said teammate Fafa Picault.
“That goal showed who he is—our leader.”
What’s Next for Inter Miami?
With momentum now fully on their side, Inter Miami have their eyes firmly set on advancing from the group.
This win doesn’t just make headlines—it changes expectations. For a team once seen as tournament tourists, they’re now serious contenders.