Messi’s Free-Kick Magic Leads Inter Miami to Historic Win Over Porto FC

Lionel Messi’s stunning second-half free-kick powered Inter Miami to a 2-1 upset victory over Porto in the FIFA Club World Cup, marking the first competitive win for an MLS side against European opposition. Porto took an early lead through Samu Aghehowa’s penalty, but Telasco Segovia’s 47th-minute equalizer set the stage for Messi’s 54th-minute set-piece masterpiece, securing a vital Group A win.

Inter Miami, now with four points, are level with Palmeiras, who beat Al Ahly 2-0, while Porto and Al Ahly have one point each.

Despite a half-empty Mercedes-Benz Stadium due to a 3:00 pm weekday kickoff, nearly 32,000 fans witnessed Messi’s brilliance. The 37-year-old was central from the start, setting up chances for Luis Suarez and Benjamin Cremaschi, though Porto’s Claudio Ramos made key saves. Porto dominated the first half, with Aghehowa’s penalty and a shot off the post nearly doubling their lead, but Inter Miami’s resilience and Maximiliano Falcon’s goal-line clearance kept them in the game. “We competed against a strong European team,” Messi told DAZN, celebrating the team’s effort.

Under Javier Mascherano’s guidance, Inter Miami battled fiercely in the second half, with Segovia’s goal and Messi’s “clutch” free-kick, praised by teammate Fafa Picault as a show of leadership.

The MLS side, co-owned by David Beckham and boosted by Messi’s 2023 arrival, held firm through seven minutes of stoppage time to secure the historic win. A draw against Palmeiras on Monday will send both teams to the last 16, keeping Inter Miami’s knockout hopes alive.