Lionel Messi finally broke his jinx in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as he scored from a patented free-kick in the 54th minute to give Inter Miami a 2-1 win over Porto on Thursday.

Messi scored the goal after he was fouled by Rodrigo Mora outside the penalty box. The Argentine star’s left-footed shot cleared the wall and sailed into the top right corner, sending the Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a frenzy.

With this goal, Messi became the all-time leading goal scorer in all FIFA competitions, with an impressive total of 25 goals. He reached that staggering number after competing in 10 different FIFA tournaments over the past two decades. He surpassed the previous record holder, Brazilian women’s football legend Marta, who had scored 24 goals across youth and senior World Cups between 2002 and 2023.

Messi’s 25 goals span three types of tournaments. First, youth international competition - he scored 6 goals at the U-20 World Cup held in the Netherlands in 2005, the only FIFA youth tournament the forward ever played.

Earlier, Samu Aghehowa gave Porto an early lead by scoring from a penalty in the eighth minute. Inter Miami drew level right after half-time, with Telasco Segovia scoring in the 47th minute after tapping in a cross from Marcelo Weigandt.

Seven minutes later, Messi sealed the game for Miami, showing his fine form this season. Although they made a slow start to the tournament with a goalless draw against Al Ahly in the opener, Messi has remained in great form, having scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 12 starts in Major League Soccer.

“The whole team made a great effort,” Messi told DAZN after the win over the two-time European champion Porto. “We controlled the ball very well, and we’re very happy.”

With Messi just a few days short of celebrating his 38th birthday, his ability to find the goal has enthralled the crowd, who donned the No. 10 pink jersey in the stands.

Both Inter Miami and Porto had failed to score in their opening Group A matches. “Extraordinary,” Weigandt said. “When I saw the ball take off with such power I said, ‘No, that’s it.’ We’re already used to this kind of thing. … Knowing him has shown me what a great person he is, and that only makes him greater and more extraordinary.”