Club World Cup: Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami to historic win over Porto
Lionel Messi led the way once again as his stunning free kick secured Inter Miami a 2-1 win over Porto in their Club World Cup Group A clash on Thursday.
It was the first time a CONCACAF team had defeated a European side in an official Fifa tournament.
The Argentine great proved decisive as the Major-league Soccer side bounced back from their disappointing goalless draw against Egyptian side Al Ahly in their opening match.
Samu Omorodion converted a penalty in the opening minutes after a video review for the Portuguese club's first goal of the tournament.
Telasco Segovia then drew parity two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt.
Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentine to shine with a trademark goal – finding the top corner with a second half set-piece.
'It's a huge joy, the whole team made a big effort, we worked really well,' Messi told DAZN.
'It's a really important win for us and we have to enjoy it. You can see that we want to compete, and today we competed against a really good European team. We knew that today we were weaker, but we had our strengths.'
Messi was the game's outstanding player, involved heavily from the off.
The former Barcelona great clipped a dipping ball in behind for veteran striker Luis Suarez, who could only prod it at the goalkeeper.
Porto took the lead in the eighth minute after being awarded a soft penalty after a VAR review, as Miami defender Noah Allen made light contact with Joao Mario in the box.
Spain international Aghehowa beat Oscar Ustari, who had saved a penalty in the goalless draw against Al Ahly, even though the stopper got a hand to his low effort.
Uruguayan striker Suarez, 38, might have levelled after Messi threaded him through on goal but, forced to use his weaker left foot, Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos denied him.
Javier Mascherano's side almost levelled through US international Benjamin Cremaschi after a charge from Suarez broke open Porto's defence, but Ramos made a smart stop to thwart him.
Maximiliano Falcon brilliantly headed off his own goal-line with Ustari beaten by Rodrigo Mora's effort to keep Inter Miami hopes alive.
Ustari denied Aghehowa and then scrambled the ball to safety as it rolled towards his net after Alan Varela crashed a shot off the upright and it hit him on the back, as Porto turned up the heat before the break.
Miami levelled right at the start of the second half, with Segovia blasting home Weigandt's inviting cutback to stun the Portuguese side.
Messi then sent Miami ahead with a goal all of his own making after 54 minutes.
' (Messi) is a leader, he's the player he is, he's the greatest player in the world,' Miami forward Fafa Picault said.
'I had a feeling (the free-kick) was going in. That was a great goal, a great show of leadership and coming in a clutch moment for us.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Best photos of June 20: A mass yoga class in India to a bionic arm in China
A Boca Juniors fan cheers on his team at Miami Beach, Florida, as the US hosts the Fifa Club World Cup. AFP
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
2025 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals Presented by YouTube TV: Indiana Pacers defeat Oklahoma City Thunder, 108-91 (Recap)
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 108-91, in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals ( Pascal Siakam (Cameroon) led the Pacers with 16 points and 13 rebounds while Obi Toppin finished with 20 points (4 3PM), 6 rebounds, and 2 steals in the victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander totaled 21 points and 4 rebounds for the Thunder in the loss. The best-of-seven NBA Finals series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers is tied, 3-3. Game 7 will take place on Sunday, June 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Monday, June 23 at 2 a.m. CAT) on ESPN, Canal+ and NBA League Pass live from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
Al Etihad
7 hours ago
- Al Etihad
PSG stunned by Botafogo in Club World Cup upset
20 June 2025 08:56 PASADENA, UNITED STATES (AFP)Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat against Brazilian side Botafogo on Thursday in a hardfought battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America.A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference as Botafogo all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds in front of a 53,699 crowd at the Pasadena Rose champions PSG are widely regarded as one of the favourites for FIFA's 32-team tournament after a dazzling season which culminated with a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last their hopes of securing a victory which would have seen them become the first side to reach the last 16 were stymied by a resilient performance from their opponents from Rio de Janeiro."A lot of people wondered, but we showed how strong Botafogo is," goalscorer Jesus said after the win. "It was a difficult game, and we had to defend well, and we did our job and scored a goal."We're really happy -- we knew how important this game was. One team was the champion of the Champions League, the other team was the champion of South America," added Jesus, who had been strongly linked with a move to English Premier League side Nottingham Forest earlier this year before opting to stay with the Brazilians to play in the Club World Cup."I think I made the right choice to stay in Botafogo," Jesus quipped.'Intense'PSG coach Luis Enrique said his team had expected a tough battle."We knew it was going to be a very difficult match -- they defended very well," the Spaniard said."This Club World Cup is very intense and difficult, and all the teams are highly motivated, especially when they're playing against us."The PSG manager though was adamant that the European champions still had plenty of time to resurrect their campaign."If there's a team that can turn it around, it's our team," he said. "We've got to analyse this and there's things we can improve. But I think our performance was good."PSG picked up where they had left off in Sunday's 4-0 Group B rout of Atletico Madrid, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia testing Botafogo goalkeeper John with an early curling effort after just two that early effort was as close as PSG came to scoring in a scrappy first half punctuated by a series of niggling fouls that prevented the European champions from settling into their passing midfield trio of Marlon Freitas, Gregore and Allan worked tirelessly to close down Vitinha, denying the skilful PSG playmaker time and space to launch attacks despite dominating it was Botafogo who took the lead with a goal against the run of play on 36 Savarino's perfectly weighted through ball split the PSG defence and sent Jesus racing through on Botafogo striker did brilliantly to wrongfoot the covering Willian Pacho before sweeping a shot that took a slight deflection past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on its way into the continued to dominate possession through the second half, and spent long periods camped in the final third. But Botafogo's defence held firm and the result leaves the Brazilians firmly on course for the last 16, with a final group game against Atletico Madrid to come in Pasadena on Monday.
