Magical Lionel Messi Earns Shock Inter Miami Win

Inter Miami has defeated FC Porto 2-1 at the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup. It’s a shock result that puts Lionel Messi’s MLS side second in Group A.

Magisterial Lionel Messi

The moment that Inter Miami was waiting for. The moment that Lionel Messi was waiting for. The moment that Gianni Infantino was waiting for. A simply stunning free-kick from Messi to put the MLS side 2-1 up against FC Porto. Finally some real stardust has been sprinkled over this tournament.

Trademark Messi from the edge of the box. The Argentina legend stepped up and rasped the ball into the top corner. The free-kick position was so central that Messi might have gone either way, the goalkeeper dared not guess but then he was beaten on his own side. He didn’t even see it coming.

It was a genius strike from the number 10. Impeccable execution, hit with purpose, this was vintage Lionel and he has finally left his mark on this tournament.

Inter Miami 2-1 Porto

A shock result from the Mercedes-Benz stadium in Atlanta, and a historic one for the MLS. When Lionel Messi put Luis Suárez through on goal in the first half it was still 1-0 to Porto, and Suárez squandered the opportunity. He looked a million miles off the player he used to be. The Uruguayan was well off the pace and that summed up Miami’s championship until that point.

Miraculously, that all changed in the second period. Inter Miami were 2-1 up in the 54th minute and held onto that result to leapfrog the Portuguese side in the group. The first shock victory of the tournament has been produced by David Beckham’s veteran stars.

The result also means that Brazilian side Palmeiras will confirm top of the group by drawing their final game with Inter Miami. Plameiras defeated Al Ahly earlier on Thursday. This would be fantastic news for South American football after an already brilliant start to the tournament for the CONMEBOL teams.

All To Play For In Group A

In the final round of games, Inter Miami will face off with Palmeiras of Brazil, and Porto will take on Al Ahly. It’s still all to play for. A heavy victory or defeat for each team could leave them in or out of the tournament on match day three of the group stage.

Inter Miami looked down and out in this tournament. The team didn’t show up in their opener against Al Ahly and they didn’t start strong against Porto either. Miami was 1-0 down after just eight minutes and it’s fair to say that everyone would have written off the South Florida side from group progression at that point. Now the men in pink can make a shock escape from this extremely tight group.

Al Ahly and Porto need to win and hope Inter Miami and Palmeiras don’t draw on the final day of group games. That result would confirm the exit of Al Ahly and Porto from the tournament no matter who wins their game. Therefore, a cagey low scoring draw could be the obvious outcome when the MLS side take on the Brazilians.