Messi magic! Inter Miami Star’s Free Kick Caps 2-1 Return on Porto

Dug McIntire

Football journalist

Lionel Messi did not disappoint, in his first competitive match against a European club since Paris St.-Germen at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Messi scored the game winning the game for Inter Miami on Thursday, completing the return of Herons against Portuguese Side Porto in the second group stage game of both teams, which was the second group stage game of the US-Host FIFA Club World Cup.

Porto opened the scoring after just eight minutes at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, when striker Samu Omorodian converted from a penalty spot of the groom, when VAR determined that Miami’s defender Noah Allen had poured Joo Mario.

The two-time European champion took a one-gall lead in the second half, but the Miami Winger Telasko Segovia equaled to Herons soon after the gap.

Set the platform for Messi.

When turned 38 next week, the Argentina World Cup winner pushed the ball forward to take a 25-yard free kick in the 54th minute, it was easy to predict what would be further.

Certainly, the former Barcelona icon sent his previous curling shot of Porto’s goalkeeper Cladio Ramos and to make it 2–1 for the Xavier Mantrano squad in the top corner of the net-Miami stood up despite a fierce late attack from Portuguese.

Porto ended with 14 shots with Miami’s 10, but they were useless with those opportunities: Bagule’s backstop Oscar Maidar was forced to save Jute three during the competition.

Jeet represented another strong performance for Major League Football Clubs who competed in the event. Miami opened the 32-club tournament last week with a scorer draw against Egypt’s Al Ahali, while the Seattle Sounders and LAFC lost close games with Botfogo and Chelsea respectively. (Seattle hosted Spanish Titans Atletico Madrid later on Thursday.)

Miami is now in a position to qualify for a 16-team knockout stage with a tie in her next match.

Messi & Company on Monday closed his first round schedule to Brazil’s Power Palmiras vs Brazil’s Power Palmiras at the Hard Rock Stadium at Miami Garden.

Meanwhile, Porto has just one point through its two matches and should defeat Al Ahali at the conclusion of his group to give any chance to move forward in the last 16.

Doug McIntair is a football reporter for Fox Sports, who has covered the United States’ national teams in the FIFA World Cup on five continents. His chase @Bydougmcintyre,

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