Lionel Messi's fabulous free-kick guides Inter Miami to Group A comeback over Porto

Lionel Messi got Inter Miami's FIFA Club World Cup into top gear on Thursday as the Argentina legend scored a sublime free-kick to secure a 2-1 comeback victory over Porto.

The veteran forward finished from just over 20 yards out, steering a superb finish into the top-right corner after Telasco Segovia had cancelled out Samu Aghehowa's opener.

Victory after Saturday's opening-day draw with Al Ahly saw the MLS heavyweights move joint-top of Group A alongside Palmeiras, who secured victory themselves beforehand.

The pair will meet in their final group stage encounter next week knowing a draw will be enough to secure passage into the last-16, while Porto face the threat of an early exit.

Here are the key talking points from Miami's impressively muscular comeback in their second game at the tournament.

Inter Miami vs Porto highlights

Messi still holds the magic

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks - but when the old dog knows every trick in the book worth knowing already, is there any point trying to reinvent their game?

Messi arrived in America with the FIFA World Cup finally in his back pocket, a superstar effectively heading out west from Europe's dreamland to play out his twilight years.

As seen with his 2023 Leagues Cup success and last year's record-breaking Supporters Shield haul too, the star is clearly not coasting as many wondered he might in MLS.

Now, back on a truly international club stage, the veteran attacker showed once again that he can still turn a match on its head with just one swing of his magnificent boot.

If an earlier miss mere minutes before his big moment was always going to be a difficult attempt, even for a man of his talents, it proved the perfect warm-up for the real deal.

Twenty-odd yards out, in centre-field, with nearly every Porto player forming a wall that seemed to stretch line-to-line, the star's glorious finish reminded fans he is far from done.

Mora ready to command big money move

As one man continues to elude Father Time however, another is just getting started - and he could yet become one of the most promising players in the modern European game.

Rodrigo Mora is still only 18, a wunderkid seeking to help deliver success back to Porto - and with his inventive graft across the pitch, you can see why they want to keep him too.

The teenager reportedly has a €70m release clause, and after coming up short in the domestic top-flight back home, perhaps the club were hopeful suitors might balk at that tag.

But even if they keep hold of him for another season, don't be surprised if a share of major suitors with fat wallets come knocking for his services before the transfer window shuts.

He isn't the only Porto player likely to draw attention. Aghehowa may be a little unrefined for some of the flashier clubs at the top end but plenty of interest will come his way too.

If the club fail to make the last-16 here, it will be a long trip back to Portugal - and an even longer summer parsing through the future of some of the stars that they currently hold.

Miami must find full-game performance

For the second time in two games, it was something of a yin-and-yang turn around the pitch from Miami and its mix of aging superstars and fresh-blood talent.

Unlike European teams, the MLS season is still in full swing, with its stars not holding the theoretical disadvantage of a full campaign under their belt to hinder them.

But twice now, the Herons have come out of the blocks as arguably the lesser side in the contest, with a brief opening stint here promptly swept aside by Porto's opener.

Miami looked static and short of ideas offensively, with their relatively rote approach picked off for impressive counter-attacks by their more wily opponents until the break.

Clearly, they had been given stern words in the sheds at the interval, as they looked like a team possessed when they returned from their half-time oranges and Lucozade.

Segovia's finish clearly changed the trajectory of the match before Messi found the back of the net, but against Palmeiras, Miami must put a full shift in if they want to go far.

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