A Lionel Messi trademark free-kick earned Inter Miami a shock 2-1 comeback win against Porto in the Club World Cup on Thursday.
Argentine legend Lionel Messi curled a stunning second-half free-kick into the top corner to seal a surprise win for Inter Miami, boosting their hopes of advancing from Group A in the Club World Cup.
Both Inter Miami and Palmeiras now sit on four points, after the Brazilian club defeated Al Ahly 2-0 earlier in the day. Al Ahly and Porto each have one point.
Porto had taken the lead through an early penalty from Samu Aghehowa and largely controlled the first half, creating several chances to extend their advantage.
But Telasco Segovia drew Miami level with a powerful strike, setting the stage for Messi’s match-winning moment and a result few had predicted, given Porto’s European pedigree.
Co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, Inter Miami joined Major League Soccer in 2020 and made global headlines by signing Messi in 2023.
This victory marks a milestone — the first competitive win for an MLS side over European opposition, following LAFC’s earlier loss to Chelsea in the tournament.
