In the early morning of June 20 (Vietnam time), Inter Miami defeated Porto in the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025TM. Messi was the "Best Player of the Match" when he scored the winning goal for the home team US with a beautiful free kick.
This was Messi's 50th goal for Inter Miami in just 61 appearances. Messi's goal not only helped Inter Miami get their first win in this year's tournament but also helped the Argentine striker create a memorable milestone in his career.
This was Messi's 68th goal from a direct free kick in his career, only 2 goals behind the "Football King" Pele (70 goals) and 9 goals behind Juninho (77 goals).
The World Football Federation (FIFA) homepage also recorded Messi as the first player to reach the milestone of 1250 when he left his mark on goals at both club and national team level. Currently, the captain of the Argentina team has 866 goals and 384 assists.
After the match against Porto, Messi shared: " Inter Miami had a bad first minutes but the young players had valuable experiences when competing in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025TM.
This victory was a great effort for the whole team. We not only defend well but also control the ball effectively. After the match with Al Ahly, we felt a bit disappointed. This is a very important victory and we will enjoy it".
Meanwhile, Porto coach Martin Anselmi also praised Messi.
This victory helped Inter Miami get 4 points, equal to Palmeiras but behind the Brazilian representative in Group A due to a goal difference. The two teams will face each other directly in the final round on June 24.
