Messi ignites Miami's Club World Cup with winner vs. Porto - ESPN

Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup on Thursday with a patented free kick, giving Inter Miami a historic 2-1 win over over two-time European champion FC Porto on Thursday.

Messi, one of the biggest stars in the 32-team tournament, was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field.

With the crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium chanting «Messi!» over and over again, his left-footed blast cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner in the 54th minute.

After a disappointing goalless draw against Egyptian side Al Ahly to open the tournament on Saturday, the win was crucial to Miami's hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds.

«It was a great effort from the whole team,» Messi told DAZN. «Not only did we defend but we managed the ball well. We had a sour taste after the game against Al Ahly. This is a very important victory and we'll enjoy it.

»It is being seen that we want to compete, we competed against a good team and here and there we gave away the first half. The young guys had nerves playing in this competition for the first time."

Inter Miami trailed 1-0 at the break after Samu Omorodion scored on a penalty kick in the opening minutes following a video review for the Portuguese club's first goal of the tournament.

But Telasco Segovia tied it two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from from Marcelo Weigandt. Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentine to shine.

Messi's strike meant Miami became the first Concacaf team to beat a European opponent in a FIFA international club competition. It was also Messi's 50th Miami goal in all competitions, in his 61st appearance.

The win puts Miami level on