Lionel Messi pulled off a magical free-kick into the top corner, aiding Inter Miami in defeating FC Porto 2–1 in their June 19, 2025, FIFA Club World Cup opener. The game was a part of the group stage, and the win is a significant one for Inter Miami and Major League Soccer (MLS) overall. The magical moment for Messi arrived a few minutes after Telasco Segovia’s equalizer. With this win, Inter Miami became the first MLS team to defeat a European club at the Club World Cup, making football history once again thanks to Messi’s brilliance.
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[Trending] Messi’s Free Kick and Segovia’s Equalizer Seal the Win
The match began on a difficult note for Inter Miami, as Porto took the lead in the 8th minute with a penalty converted by Samu Aghehowa after Noah Allen committed a foul inside the box. Inter Miami drew level in the 47th minute, soon after the half-time restart when Telasco Segovia got the back of the net with a good shot, assisted by Marcelo Weigandt.
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for. In the 54th minute, Messi bent a beautifully crafted free kick into the top corner, a classic Messi “golazo”. His first FIFA Club World Cup goal for Inter Miami and the strike that was enough to give them the 2–1 win.
Porto fought hard in the last minutes, but Inter Miami held firm and recorded a landmark win before the enthusiastic group of fans in Atlanta.
A Big Moment for Inter Miami and MLS
Messi did it once again, and it altered the world’s perception of MLS clubs. Defeating a seasoned European club in Porto on a global FIFA platform is huge. It was also the first time since 2012 that a European club had ever fallen to a non-European club in the Club World Cup.
Now they sit atop Group A, tied on points with Palmeiras. The win puts them in a good position to advance to the next stage of the tournament and possibly take on giants like Manchester City or Al Ahly in the knockout stages.
Personal Take: Amit Mishra
At 37 years old, Messi is writing new pages in the book of football history. That free kick was a reminder to all of us why they refer to him as the GOAT: well-placed, powerful, and at the right moment. I was mesmerized once again by his game. It’s fantastic to have an MLS team growing with this type of global appeal. With Messi at the forefront, Inter Miami is no longer just another American team; it’s a team the entire world has an eye for.
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