Messi wins the dragon, Porto becomes the first European team to lose to the Club World Cup

Sports Weekly All-Media Reporter Xiaozhong reported

On June 19, in the second round of the Club World Cup Group A, Miami International defeated Porto 2-1, and Messi scored a beautiful free kick. The Portuguese Super League "Dragon Legion" has also become the first European team to lose in the Club World Cup since Chelsea lost to Corinthian in the 2012 Club World Cup final, and has also become the first European team to lose to Central and North America and the Caribbean team in the event held by FIFA.

Miami's qualifying situation improved, with 1 draw and 1 loss in the first two rounds and only 1 point. In another match in the same round, Palmeiras defeated Cairo Nationals 2-0. Therefore, the situation in Porto is relatively dangerous and is likely to become the first European team to be eliminated in this Club World Cup.

At the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Porto led the score with a penalty kick in the 9th minute. But after the goal, Porto was suppressed by his opponent. In the 47th minute, Miami International made a cross from the right, and Segovia scored with a right foot shot from the penalty area, setting the score 1-1. In the 54th minute, Messi took a free kick in the frontcourt, and the ball flew into the net with the left post on the goal, and the score was locked at 2-1.

It is worth mentioning that Messi has a fate with Porto. His debut in Barcelona's first team back then was Porto. As we all know, Messi was officially promoted to Barcelona first team in the 2004/05 season. However, as early as the 2003/04 season, he played a friendly match for Barcelona's first team, and his opponent on the court was Porto.

It was November 16, 2003, the opening match of the Porto Dragon Stadium, and Porto invited Barcelona to play. In that game, in the 74th minute, Messi played for Barcelona's first team in the No. 30 jersey. In the end, Porto won 2-0 at home. However, in that game, Barcelona did not send all their main players to the field, and Ronaldinho did not even go to Porto.

In fact, in his career, June 18th, the first match between Messi and Porto in the official game. On August 26, 2011, in the European Super Cup, Barcelona defeated Porto 2-0, Messi scored the first record in the 39th minute, and Fabregas secured the score in the 88th minute. Messi was in his prime at that time and was only 24 years old.

22 years ago, in the friendly match against Porto, Messi was just a substitute, and there was no goal. In the European Super Cup 14 years ago, Messi scored a goal against Porto. Now he is 38 years old, Messi is still alive and scored another goal against Porto. More importantly, Messi's role is crucial in the match between Miami International and Porto, and he plays gracefully and calmly, which makes opponents who are more than 10 years younger than him ashamed.

In 2011, Porto could not beat Messi, who was 24 years old, and could not beat Barcelona, ​​which was in full swing under Guardiola. In 2025, Porto still cannot beat Messi, who is 38 years old, and Miami International. Becoming the first European team to lose in this Club World Cup, and losing to a North American team, Porto's 1-2 loss was considered a shame by the Portuguese media.

Club World Cup opening match tied 0-0 with Cairo Nationals, and ranked fourth in the group due to 4 yellow cards. He won against Porto, and Miami International saw the dawn of qualifying in the group. After the game, Messi was interviewed by DAZN TV, and he couldn't hide his inner joy.

Messi said: "It's a very huge joy. The team played well, we're not just defending, we're very good at controlling the ball, I'm very satisfied because after the first game, there was a bitter taste, and we felt that we could have won that game. However, today's victory is very important to us and we will enjoy it."

Messi believes that the reason why we can beat Porto is because the whole team has a spirit of not giving in. In the final match of the group against Palmeiras, he and his teammates will not be afraid of the formation and will fight with all their strength.

Messi said: "We want to fight. Today, against a good European team, we fought. We played a great game. We will continue to work hard and hope to replicate this victory. We know that we are not as strong as Palmeiras, but we have our souls. It will be a very difficult game."

The first game of the group against Palmeiras, 33-year-old veteran Claudio Ramos who played as a substitute for the main goalkeeper Diogo Costa performed bravely and made many wonderful saves to ensure the goal. But for Miami International, Claudio Ramos faces Messi, with more experience in his opponents, better footwork, smarter and smarter. Messi gave a free kick, and Claudio Ramos didn't expect him to play like that. By the time the reaction came, the Portuguese goalkeeper was already out of reach.

Messi also explained after the game that his beautiful free kick scored and why he played like that. He said: "I saw the free throw point in the middle area, very close to the goal. It would be difficult to get the ball to jump over the wall, so I took advantage of the opponent's goalkeeper's placement. I saw that the opponent's goalkeeper was a little closer to the middle, and I took advantage of the space he gave me. He stopped in the middle, and he didn't protect his post too much, so I tried that angle."