FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Messi magic seals Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over Porto

Inter Miami secured its first victory in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 with a 2-1 win against FC Porto at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday, June 19. Lionel Messi was the match's star, scoring his first and the winning goal from a free-kick and earning the Man of the Match title.

The game started with Inter Miami showing early promise. Messi created several chances in the opening minutes, but the team failed to convert them. Porto capitalised on this and took the lead in the 8th minute after a VAR check awarded them a penalty. Samu Aghehowa stepped up and scored, putting Porto ahead 1-0.

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The goal came against the run of play and disrupted Miami’s early momentum. Porto continued to press and nearly doubled their lead with efforts from Varela and Mora. Inter Miami, meanwhile, struggled with poor finishing and defensive errors.

At halftime, Porto led 1-0. Inter Miami needed a strong comeback, and it came quickly after the break. In the 47th minute, Julian Segovia equalised for Miami with a powerful first-time shot from a low cross by Weigandt. The goal boosted Miami’s confidence.

Just minutes later, Messi turned the game on its head. In the 54th minute, he won a free-kick at the edge of the box and curled it beautifully into the top-right corner, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 lead.

Porto responded by pushing hard for an equaliser. They brought on multiple substitutes and created several chances. Gomes came close, but his poor first touch let him down. Mora and Samu also had shots deflected for corners.

Inter Miami’s defence, led by goalkeeper Ustari, stood firm. In the final minutes, Jordi Alba returned from injury and helped shore up the backline. Messi nearly added a third goal in injury time but was denied by Porto’s keeper. Despite Porto’s late push, Inter Miami held on.

With this win, Inter Miami moved up in Group A. Segovia’s equaliser and Messi’s free-kick proved crucial. The team showed resilience and strong defence in the second half.

One notable moment regarding the new rule was when Ustari had to release the ball within eight seconds to avoid conceding a corner under the updated regulations.

This result gives Inter Miami a strong chance of advancing to the next round. They will now head to Florida to face Palmeiras in their final group-stage match.