Lionel Messi led the comeback of Inter Miami when they won a 2-1 win over Porto on Thursday at the Club World Cup.
Miami struggled to assert themselves in the first half, but two Quickfire objectives immediately after the break they saw their first victory over the tournament.
Porto took a lead in the eighth minute from the penalty spot – a VAR review saw that Noah all caught Joao Mario with a late challenge in the box. Samu Aghowa stepped up with confidence and unpacked the top left corner, even though Oscar Ustari got a hand on the ball.
They could have double their lead before the break, with Samu Ustari forced the rescue in a vast save before Alan Varela struck the post with a long -distance ride.
And Miami benefited from those mistakes only two minutes after the break. Marcelo Wiegandt cut an inviting cross in the box, and Telasco Segovia demolished between two defenders for an emphatic effort in the roof of the net.
Messi curled a free kick a little later, but made no such mistake with his next attempt in the 54th minute. From just outside the D he bent a beautiful shot in the top right corner, so Claudio Ramos did not get a chance.
Porto stacked on a late pressure without disturbing Ustari, as Miami held the points for all three. The herons are second in group A, level on four points with Palmeiras, who already defeated Ahly 2-0 after a storm delay earlier on Thursday.
Game. Set. Messi. #Fifacwc
– Fifa Club World Cup (@Fifacwc) 19 June 2025
Data Debrief: Messi offers the magic
What Javier Mascherano also said that in his half-time team talk had the desired effect for Miami, because a fast start of the second half was the job.
And although Segovia brought them back to the game, it was Messi's 50th Miami goal that achieves the headlines while he came to the monument in just 61 performances.
And Messi scored 68 direct free-kick goals for Club and Country and scored at least one in 12 different competitions (plus international friendly competitions).
Porto certainly had their chances, with 14 efforts on the goal, although they only managed three on goal, two less than Miami, who generally had only six shots.