Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group Stage: A Historic Run

Picture this: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, packed with over 60,000 fans chanting “Messi! Messi!” as the greatest footballer of all time steps onto the pitch for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Inter Miami, a five-year-old MLS club, weren’t just here to make up the numbers—they were out to make history. From June 14 to June 26, 2025, Lionel Messi and his squad battled through Group A against Al Ahly, FC Porto, and Palmeiras, defying doubters to reach the knockout stage. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was pure drama. Here’s how Inter Miami and Messi lit up the group stage, punched their ticket to the Round of 16, and put MLS on the global map.

Why Inter Miami’s Run Was a Big Deal

Inter Miami’s spot in the 2025 Club World Cup raised eyebrows. They didn’t qualify by winning the MLS Cup—LA Galaxy took that in 2024—but by snagging the Supporters’ Shield with a record-breaking 74 points in the regular season. FIFA president Gianni Infantino handpicked them as the host nation’s representative, a move some called a “marketing stunt” to showcase Messi. Critics like Alexi Lalas called it “disingenuous,” but love it or hate it, it put Inter Miami in Group A alongside Egypt’s Al Ahly, Portugal’s FC Porto, and Brazil’s Palmeiras—a tough draw for an MLS side.

Led by coach Javier Mascherano, a former Barcelona teammate of Messi, Inter Miami faced a steep challenge. With stars like Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba (despite injuries to Alba and others), they leaned on their big-game experience. The group stage, part of the revamped 32-team tournament, was their chance to prove they belonged among the world’s elite. Spoiler: they did, becoming the only MLS team to advance and the first CONCACAF club to beat a European side in an official competition.

The Matches: Grit, Glory, and a Near-Miss

Inter Miami played three group stage matches, finishing second in Group A with seven points (two wins, one draw). Here’s how it went down:

Matchday 1: Inter Miami 0-0 Al Ahly (June 14, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami)

The tournament kicked off with a bang—or rather, a tense stalemate—at Hard Rock Stadium, with 60,927 fans in attendance. Inter Miami faced African giants Al Ahly, known for their upset potential. Messi was everywhere, weaving through defenders and firing a second-half free kick that hit the side netting, but Al Ahly’s goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy was a brick wall. Miami’s Oscar Ustari earned Player of the Match honors with a clutch penalty save against Trezeguet in the 43rd minute, keeping the score level. The 0-0 draw was a gritty start, but Miami looked “incoherent” at times, with Busquets struggling to connect with Messi’s old magic. Still, they held their own against a battle-tested side.

Matchday 2: Inter Miami 2-1 FC Porto (June 19, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)

This was the game that changed everything. Facing Porto, a two-time Champions League winner, Inter Miami pulled off a historic 2-1 upset—the first time a CONCACAF club beat a European team in an official competition. Porto struck first with Samu Omorodion’s penalty in the eighth minute, but Miami roared back. Telasco Segovia equalized just after halftime, finishing a Marcelo Weigandt cross, and then Messi delivered a moment of pure genius: a 54th-minute free kick that curled into the top corner, his 68th career set-piece goal and his 50th for Miami. The Atlanta crowd erupted, chanting his name. Despite Porto’s pressure, Miami held firm, with Mascherano praising their “daring” plan to compete against a European powerhouse. This win put Miami on four points and sent a message: they weren’t just here for the vibes.

Matchday 3: Inter Miami 2-2 Palmeiras (June 23, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami)

The group stage finale, on the eve of Messi’s 38th birthday, was a heart-stopper. Inter Miami faced Brazil’s Palmeiras, needing a draw to advance. They surged to a 2-0 lead with Tadeo Allende’s 16th-minute solo stunner—a 40-meter run slicing through Palmeiras’ defense—and a Suárez golazo in the 65th, a curling left-footed strike after a clever chested assist. But Miami’s lack of depth showed late. Palmeiras clawed back with substitute Paulinho’s low finish in the 80th minute and Mauricio’s equalizer in the 87th, snatching top spot on goal difference (+2 vs. Miami’s +1). The 2-2 draw secured Miami’s knockout berth but left them facing a daunting Round of 16 clash with PSG, Messi’s former club. The simultaneous 4-4 thriller between Porto and Al Ahly—where Wessam Abou Ali’s hat-trick wasn’t enough—confirmed both teams’ elimination, letting Miami and Palmeiras advance.

Final Group A Standings

• Palmeiras: 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw, +2 goal difference)
• Inter Miami: 7 points (1 win, 2 draws, +1 goal difference)
• Al Ahly: 2 points (0 wins, 2 draws)
• FC Porto: 2 points (0 wins, 2 draws)

Palmeiras took first due to their superior goal difference, setting up an all-Brazilian Round of 16 clash with Botafogo, while Inter Miami face PSG on June 29 in Atlanta.

Messi’s Impact: Magic Amid Challenges

Messi, at 38, wasn’t at his Barcelona peak, but his flashes of brilliance carried Miami. His free-kick goal against Porto was a highlight-reel moment, and he played all 270 minutes across the three matches, a testament to his durability despite a minor thigh issue against Porto. Critics noted he couldn’t “call the shapes into being” like in his prime, with moments of frustration—like shaking his head after Palmeiras’ equalizer—but his leadership was undeniable.

Suárez stepped up big, too, with a goal and assist against Palmeiras, showing his old magic despite knee pain. Busquets, however, struggled, looking slower against Al Ahly’s press, and the team’s lack of new signings in FIFA’s June transfer window left them thin. Mascherano admitted the “level is higher” than MLS, but praised the team’s heart: “If we dare to play, we can compete.”

Why It Matters

Inter Miami’s run was historic. They’re the only MLS team to reach the knockouts, outlasting Seattle Sounders and LAFC, and their Porto win marked a milestone for CONCACAF. Messi maintained his streak of never exiting a tournament’s group stage, a stat that’s “genuinely crazy” at 38. Facing PSG next, with former coach Luis Enrique and stars like Ousmane Dembélé, is a dream matchup for fans and a massive test for Miami. As Jordi Alba put it, “We’ve competed in all three matches. Let’s see how far we can go.”

How to Follow the Next Steps

The Round of 16 kicks off June 28, with Inter Miami vs. PSG on June 29 at 12:00 PM ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Stream it free on DAZN or catch it on TNT, Univision, TUDN, or ViX in the U.S. Tickets start at $40 on FIFA.com, and #FIFACWC on X is buzzing with fan reactions. The road to the July 13 final at MetLife Stadium is heating up.

Wrap-Up

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi turned heads in the 2025 Club World Cup group stage, defying odds to reach the knockouts. From a gritty draw with Al Ahly to a landmark win over Porto and a heartbreaking collapse against Palmeiras, they showed heart, grit, and a touch of magic. Now, with PSG looming, Messi faces his old club in a clash that’ll write new chapters in his legend. Miami’s carrying the MLS flag—let’s see how far they can fly.