37-Year-Old Messi Stuns with 20m Free-Kick, Ignites 30,000 Fans in Club World Cup Thriller
In the early hours of June 20, Inter Miami faced FC Porto in their second group stage match of the Club World Cup. Falling behind early due to a penalty, Messi led a thrilling comeback capped by a spectacular free-kick that had the entire stadium roaring.
From Behind to Glory—Messi Commands the Pitch
After conceding in the 8th minute, Miami equalized before halftime with a close-range finish from Terrasco. Then came the moment of brilliance—54th minute, a direct free-kick from 20 meters. With precision and calm, Messi curled the ball over the wall into the top corner. The goalkeeper guessed correctly but had no chance to stop it.
It was a goal worthy of a highlight reel, earning a standing ovation from the 30,000 spectators in attendance.
One Behind Ronaldo—Messi’s 68th Free-Kick Goal
This was Messi’s 68th direct free-kick goal in his professional career, placing him just one behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s world record. Remarkably, he has scored free-kicks in 12 different competitions, a feat unmatched in modern football.
His stats from the game further highlight his dominance: 2 shots, 1 on target, 1 goal, 3 dribbles (2 successful), and 2 key passes. He received the highest match rating of 8.3 and was named Man of the Match.
Next Stop: Palmeiras—A Shot at History
With one win and one draw from their first two group matches, Inter Miami are in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stage. Their final test will be against Brazilian side Palmeiras. All eyes will be on whether Messi can equal—or surpass—Ronaldo’s free-kick record and lead his team further in the tournament.
