Messi and Inter Miami Rewrite the FIFA Club World Cup Story
It’s one thing to dream about North American teams making waves on football’s biggest stages, but it’s something else to see it happen live. Inter Miami CF stunned the football world by defeating FC Porto 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, setting a brand-new precedent for both Inter Miami and the entire CONCACAF region. Before this electrifying night, no team from North America had ever managed to knock out a UEFA club in an official FIFA competition. But June 19, 2025, flipped the script for good.
The tension in the air crackled from the opening whistle. Inter Miami looked nervous and Porto wasted no time capitalizing. In the eighth minute, referee Rui Marques took a closer look at a tangle in the box. After a lengthy VAR check, Noah Allen was found guilty of a clumsy challenge, and Porto’s Samu Aghehowa coolly buried his penalty. The Portuguese side then flexed their Champions League experience, pressing high and creating dangerous chances. Alan Varela came inches from doubling Porto’s lead, his shot smashing off the post, and Inter Miami’s keeper Maxi Falcón scrambled to keep his team in it with some crucial stops.
On the other end, Inter Miami barely registered a shot in the first half. But something changed at halftime—call it belief, call it a tactical reset. Whatever it was, it worked. Within two minutes of the restart, Marcelo Weigandt stormed down the right wing and whipped in a precise cross. Telasco Segovia raced between defenders and slotted the ball home to level the score. Suddenly, the pressure shifted and Miami’s fans dared to hope.
Messi Cements His Legacy—Again
All eyes turned to Lionel Messi, who looked quiet in the first 45 but always dangerous with any inch of space. Just seven minutes after the equalizer, Miami won a free kick 22 yards out. The stadium held its breath. Messi, standing over the ball in that familiar pose, curled a stunning shot around the wall and inside the near post for his 50th Inter Miami goal. The eruption in the stands was deafening. Even seasoned FC Porto fans couldn’t help but appreciate the moment—the little magician had turned the match upside down once more.
Holding the lead wasn’t easy. Porto launched attack after attack, desperate to force extra time. Maxi Falcón turned away two late efforts, parrying a fizzing drive from Rodrigo Mora and then smothering a dangerous rebound. Inter Miami’s defenders threw themselves in front of every shot. When the final whistle blew, Lionel Messi and his teammates fell to their knees—elation, exhaustion, and a real sense of history made.
- First-ever CONCACAF team to beat a UEFA side in any official FIFA club tournament
- Lionel Messi bags his 50th goal for the club with a trademark free kick
- Crucial performances from Telasco Segovia, Maxi Falcón, and Marcelo Weigandt underline Inter Miami’s team effort
Few gave David Beckham’s MLS project a real chance on nights like this when the Club World Cup rings with the names of European giants. But now? Inter Miami hasn’t just shocked FC Porto—they’ve kicked down the door for every North American squad with Champions League ambitions. Suddenly, the rest of the football world has to take MLS and CONCACAF a little more seriously.
