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The Independent
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Independent
‘Touched by God' – how the world reacted to Lionel Messi's brilliance at Club World Cup
Another football tournament arrives, and yet again it's Lionel Messi grabbing headlines. Inter Miami 's 2-1 win over Porto in the Club World Cup is the first time that an MLS team has beaten a European side in official competition, but that is a mere subplot after Messi produced yet another magic moment to remind the world that he is more than capable of deciding a game even at the age of 37. In the 54th minute of the match, with the scores at 1-1, Miami won a free-kick around 20 yards out, right on the edge of the 'D' in a central position. Trademark goalscoring territory for a man of Messi's talents – though it was still impressive how he curled the ball over the wall, on the keeper's side, crashing it into the side-netting. It marks a 68th free-kick goal of Messi's career, meaning he is second only to Pele (70) and Lyon legend Juninho Pernambucano (77) in goal scored from direct free-kicks. When the Argentinian superstar led his nation to a third World Cup in Qatar in 2022, many assumed he would not be featuring in the next edition, whether due to age or a supposed loss of form. But with the World Cup looming large as the USA warms up by hosting the Club World Cup, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner showed that he may still be one of his nation's star players come June 2026. And the world was quick to react to yet another moment of Messi magic, with former Portugal defender Jose Fonte saying that the Argentinian is 'touched by God'. Speaking on Dazn, Fonte labelled Messi as 'incredible', with Shay Given adding that 'he is a genius'. 'If you get a chance to go see this guy live - you go and see him. This is what he does,' added Given. 'You call him maestro, magician, the words run out.' 'He is affecting the game, he is controlling the game. He is controlling his team-mates, he never gives the ball away,' said former Scotland midfielder Don Hutchinson. "Lionel Messi has still got those amazing feet. At his age, 37, [he's ]still dancing through,' he added. Inter Miami teammate Fafa Picault went even further, suggest that Messi is still 'the greatest player in the world'. Social media clearly remains enchanted by the Argentinian too, with a simple Fabrizio Romano post on X regarding Messi's free-kick goals tally garnering almost 100,000 likes. Another post outlined that Messi now has 1250 goal contributions across his career, with 866 goals and 384 assists. The goal marked Messi's 50th for Miami since joining in 2023, and it takes his overall tally at club level to 754. He sits second in the all-time scorers list at the Club World Cup too, with six goals – one behind Cristiano Ronaldo – having scored his first in the old format in 2009 with Barcelona. The victory marked the first time Inter Miami have won a match in this competition, having only been formed in 2018. And a draw against Brazilian giants Palmeiras on Monday evening would be enough for both sides to advance to the round of 16 in the first edition of the new format.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Touched by God' - Messi shows he still has magic touch
Few things are as inevitable as the ball hitting the back of the net when Lionel Messi sizes up the target before executing a free-kick from 20 reminded world football - if we even needed a reminder - that he is still capable of delivering special moments during Inter Miami's 2-1 win over Porto at the Fifa Club World 37-year-old's free-kick was vintage, trademark, and there was nothing goalkeeper Claudio Ramos could do to save is, of course, a man who scored an eye-watering 73 goals in 60 appearances across all competitions during the 2011-12 season for centrally and on the edge of the D, the goal was at Messi's mercy, but he elected for the more difficult of the two options - going both over the wall and to the goalkeeper's that strike his 68th goal from direct free-kicks, Messi certainly has no shortage of experience and doesn't lack in anything when it comes to Juninho Pernambucano (77), who spent most of his career with Lyon and Pele (70) have scored more direct free-kicks than Messi."Touched by God, isn't he? Incredible. What a player," former Portugal defender Jose Fonte said on Dazn."If you get a chance to go see this guy live - you go and see him. This is what he does," ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given added on Dazn."It's nearly like a penalty for him - he is so precise. He is a genius."You call him maestro, magician, the words run out."Messi's strike followed another stunning finish from team-mate Telasco Segovia and completed a comeback victory to put Inter Miami firmly in the running for a spot in the last 16 at the Club World is the first time the MLS franchise have won a game at the competition and means a draw in their final Group A game against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras, who sit top, would send both teams through. 'Still got those amazing feet' Just shy of two years on from swapping the shores of Europe and Paris St-Germain for the MLS, Messi maintains his position as one of the leading players in world took his tally to 50 goals in 61 games for Inter Miami and is the club's all-time leading goalscorer, albeit they were only founded in eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is no stranger to delivering in the Club World Cup, having scored six times in seven his time with Barcelona he scored five goals, including three in finals, and won the competition in 2009, 2011, 2015 - just three of the trophies collected in his illustrious has scored a remarkable 754 goals at club level and isn't showing any signs of slowing."He's the greatest player in the world," said Inter Miami team-mate Fafa sits joint-second in the rankings for all-time goalscorers at the Club World Cup alongside Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema with six, and is just one shy of the overall leader Cristiano Ronaldo (7).No player completed more than Messi's tally of two dribbles at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, while he ranked fifth for most passes attempted in the game (56)."You can have a high pass completion, but you're not affecting the game," ex-Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison said on Dazn."Lionel Messi does both, he is affecting the game, he is controlling the game. He is controlling his team-mates, he never gives the ball away."Lionel Messi has still got those amazing feet. At his age, 37, still dancing through."Messi also tallied third for touches against Porto with 70 - only Sergio Busquets (85) and Porto's Fabio Vieira (99) enjoyed more. 'Showed to the world we can compete' Messi could celebrate his 38th birthday on Tuesday by booking a spot in the next phase of the Club World a blend of some ageing players like Messi, Luis Suarez, Busquets and Jordi Alaba - who all gave their best years to Barcelona - and some younger players from the Americas, Inter Miami have set their sights victory over Porto marked the first time an MLS team has beaten a European side in an official competition."Today we showed to the world and ourselves that we can compete against any team," manager Javier Mascherano told Dazn."It is great for the people of the USA to see our team compete in this kind of tournament."Prior to this edition of the re-formatted Club World Cup, only one MLS side had competed in the competition. Seattle Sounders, who are also involved this year, reached the second round in Sounders, Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC are all bidding to impress on home soil over the next few weeks.
