‘We can do something amazing’

The manager Javier Mascherano insists that his Inter Miami team can do “something amazing” after Lionel Messi produced a moment of magic when the MLS outfit came from behind against Porto to get his first victory in the 2025 Club World Cup.

Messi scored the winner in a 2-1 victory with his club 50 of the club and the 68th direct free kick of his career when the 37-year-old Argentine denied his age to dazzle against the heavyweight pesos.

Miami feels behind an early penalty of Samu Aghehowa and followed the break. However, the return began almost immediately after the restart, with Fablasco Sgovia drilling at home the 90 -second equalizer in the second half.

The stage was prepared for Messi and the eight-time winner of Ballon d’Or caused jubilant scenes inside the Mercedes-Benz stadium in Atlanta seven minutes later when a sublime free of just outside the box was curled out home to complete the box to complete the change.

Messi doing the things of Messi-a free one! ⚽️

Enjoy it from all angles 👏👀

See the @fifacwc | June 14 – July 13 | Each game | Free | https://t.co/i0k4eutwwb | #Fifacwc #The cooktheworld #MIAFCP pic.twitter.com/3qfoebf1d

– Dazn Football (@daznfootball) June 19, 2025

The result means that the Mascherano side is about to progress to the elimination phase and the Miami chief could not hide his joy after the game.

“The boys made a fantastic show,” Mascherano told Dazn. “They were working very, very hard against a team that has a lot of quality.

“But today we can show the world and ourselves that we can compete against any team.

“The players understood that they can do it, that they can work together. When we are together, we can do something incredible.

“It’s great for the people of the United States to see our team competing in this type of tournament.”

Next for Mascherano, Messi and company. It is a confrontation with the Brazilian side Palmeiras, who previously won 2-0 against Ahly with Chelsea Estevao’s teenager on the side.

It means that a tie on Tuesday morning (time of the United Kingdom) would see both teams describe for the round of 16, while the victory for any of the sides would see them progress as winners of the group.