Lionel Messi produced a second of magic as Inter Miami got here from behind towards Porto in Atlanta to select up their first victory on the 2025 Membership World Cup.
Messi netted a elegant free-kick – his fiftieth aim in a Miami shirt – to provide the MLS facet a 2-1 win after trailing on the break to an early Samu Aghehowa penalty.
Telasco Segovia fired residence the equaliser instantly after the restart earlier than the 37-year-old Argentine, who had earlier belied his age with a sequence of great passes to arrange Luis Suarez for a number of probabilities, put his stamp on the sport on 54-minutes.
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Messi’s strike was his 68th direct free-kick aim, placing him now simply two behind Pele and 9 behind Juninho.
The consequence means Inter’s progress to the event’s Spherical of 16 continues to be of their fingers. Javier Mascherano’s males tackle Palmeiras, who gained 2-0 earlier within the day, in a sport that might see Messi and co. high Group A with victory.
Porto, in the meantime, can be pissed off after a promising begin to the competition. They tackle Al Ahly understanding they have to win to have any hope of qualification.
An evening to recollect in Atlanta 💗🖤 pic.twitter.com/E2nHYnRJmH
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) June 19, 2025
Porto straight out the traps
Messi and Suarez led the road for Miami and it was their partnership that yielded the sport’s first probability. Inside two minutes, Messi picked the ball up on the precise, reduce inside earlier than lofting a go in direction of his former Barcelona teammate.
A stretching Suarez, nevertheless, might solely discover the legs of Porto keeper Claudio Ramos and the ball rolled out for a nook.
The 38-year-old striker went shut once more moments later from one other Messi go but it surely was Porto who broke the impasse 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 rating in Atlanta for @FCPorto! 💙
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Each Sport | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MIAFCP pic.twitter.com/CI4FySoR80
— DAZN Soccer (@DAZNFootball) June 19, 2025
However regardless of his group falling behind, Messi continued to dazzle. The Miami captain was once more the architect of one other Suarez probability on 18-minutes, feeding the ex-Liverpool man however, as soon as once more, his effort might solely discover the physique of Ramos.
The Portuguese stopper once more got here to Porto’s rescue 10 minutes earlier than the break, standing tall to maintain out Benjamin Cremaschi’s low drive.
On the different finish, Oscar Ustari confirmed off his goalkeeping credentials, saving first from Samu Aghehowa after the goalscorer went on a bustling run down the left earlier than displaying lightning reactions to maintain the ball out after Porto midfielder Alan Varela’s 20-yard strike cannoned again off the put up.
Messi magic places Miami in ascendency
After the restart, it took Miami all of 90 seconds to attract degree. Marcelo Weigandt’s in the reduction of from the byline fell to the toes of Segovia and the Venezuelan made no mistake with the end, rifling the ball excessive into the online to make it 1-1.
The aim – the MLS outfit’s first within the competitors – sparked Miami into life. Porto, in the meantime, have been now on the again foot.
Messi curled a 30-yard free-kick a couple of inches huge. It proved to be a warning shot. Simply moments later, the Miami captain stepped up and bent in a elegant set-piece from simply outdoors the field for his fiftieth membership aim.
53′ ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? 🐐
Messi scores a GORGEOUS free kick aim and @InterMiami at the moment are main 2-1 versus @FCPorto!
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Each Sport | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MIAFCP pic.twitter.com/KvshKKFrrY
— DAZN Soccer (@DAZNFootball) June 19, 2025
As the online bulged, a fierce noise erupted contained in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Within the house 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 one thing from the sport, Porto boss Martin Anselmi rang the modifications.
One such substitute, William Gomes, practically equalised along with his first contact however Ustari was courageous to smother the ball at his toes.
Samu Aghehowa then headed huge however Porto didn’t discover a breakthrough. For Miami, their journey within the Membership World Cup seems to be set to proceed.
