Lionel Messi's free kick heroics lift Inter Miami to FIFA Club World Cup win over Porto
ATLANTA — Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup on a patented free kick in the 54th minute to give Inter Miami a 2-1 lead over Porto on Thursday.
Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field.
With chants of 'Messi! Messi!' rocking Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 37-year-old Argentine star's left-footed blast cleared the wall and sailed into the top right corner.
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3 Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) scores their second goal with a free kick during the second half.
Kai Pfaffenbach-Reuters via Imagn Images
Inter Miami tied it at 1 on Telasco Segovia's goal two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from from Marcelo Weigandt.
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Messi's goal serves as a continuation of good form in the calendar year.
Though the team has had a slow start, he has 10 goals and seven assists in 12 starts.
3 Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF kicks the ball against Claudio Ramos of FC Porto.
FIFA via Getty Images
It felt like a home game for Miami, with an overwhelmingly pink crowd in Atlanta.
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With Messi's 38th birthday less than a week away, his continued success is a positive sign for fans, including the thousands wearing No. 10 jerseys inside the stadium, that his retirement is still a ways away.
3 Inter Miami CF midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi (30) heads the ball during the second half.
Kai Pfaffenbach-Reuters via Imagn Images
The Group A game between the MLS club and two-time European champion Porto was a crucial game in determining who advances to the knockout round from Group A.
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