Lionel Messi scored his 50th goal for Inter Miami as the MLS side came from behind to defeat Porto, clinching their first-ever win at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Porto made an early statement, taking the lead just eight minutes in when Samu Aghehowa converted a penalty, squeezing the ball under goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. The Portuguese side continued to press and nearly doubled their lead before the break, with Francesco Moura’s effort being cleared off the line and Alan Varela striking the post.
Inter Miami turned the tide in the second half. Telasco Segovia ignited the comeback, smashing Marcelo Weigandt’s cut-back into the top corner. The momentum shifted, and it was Messi who ultimately delivered the decisive moment. After narrowly missing a free-kick from distance minutes earlier, the Argentine maestro struck again from a central position just outside the box, curling a trademark effort over the wall and past Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos.
The goal marked Messi’s 68th from a direct free-kick and his 50th in just 61 appearances for Inter Miami. The 37-year-old’s performance served as a reminder of his enduring brilliance on the global stage, despite initial skepticism about his move to Major League Soccer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
With his sixth goal in Club World Cup competition, Messi is now joint-second on the tournament’s all-time scorers list alongside Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, and just one goal behind leader Cristiano Ronaldo.
Veteran midfielder Sergio Busquets also played a pivotal role in the win. Approaching his 37th birthday, Busquets delivered a commanding display in midfield, outshining opponents more than a decade younger. He recorded a 94.5% pass completion rate and made three successful tackles, second only to team-mate Benjamin Cremaschi. His 74 passes were bettered only by Porto’s Fabio Vieira, who attempted 80.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Inter Miami on the international stage and further underlines the impact of Messi and Busquets in elevating the club’s status.