Video: Lionel Messi scores stunning goal to put Inter Miami ahead of Porto in the Club World Cup

Lionel Messi scored a stunning free-kick goal in the second match of Group A at the Club World Cup, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 lead over Porto. The goal was perfectly placed—just the kind of precision fans have come to expect from the Argentine superstar. It happened in the 54th minute of the match.

After the pre-match scare, La Pulga started the match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, facing a tough challenge in their second group stage match of the tournament held in the United States.

In the 6th minute, the Portuguese side opened the scoring with a goal from Samu, following a controversial penalty awarded after a VAR review. Joao Mario entered the box and was lightly clipped by Noah Allen, a contact that referee Cristián Marcelo Garay initially missed.

In the 18th minute, Messi delivered a perfect assist that left Luis Suárez one-on-one to tie the match, but the Uruguayan hesitated and wasted a golden opportunity.

At the 39th minute, Inter Miami was spared from conceding a second goal thanks to a goal-line clearance by Maximiliano Falcón, after a shot from Rodrigo Mora had already beaten Óscar Ustari, the Herons’ goalkeeper.

However, just three minutes into the second half (48′), Telasco Segovia unleashed a rocket following a precise cross from Marcelo Weigandt, beating Cláudio Ramos, the FC Porto keeper.

Lionel Messi started the match and made a big impact. With a spectacular free-kick goal in the second half, the Argentine forward gave Inter Miami a 2–1 lead over Porto at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The Porto keeper didn’t even get a touch on the ball—such was the perfection of the strike for his firts goal in the Club World Cup.