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Messi’s Miami Faces Porto In Club World Cup

Zlatan Slams Inter Miami 'Circus,' Calls Messi A 'Ghost'

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami seek first win against two-time Champions League winners Porto at FIFA Club World Cup.

Who: Inter Miami vs Porto
What: FIFA Club World Cup
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States
When: Thursday, June 19 – 15:00 EDT local time | 12:00 PST | 19:00 GMT | 21:00 CEST

How to follow our coverage: We’ll have all the build-up from 11pm (16:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport.

Inter Miami and Porto both play their second match of the FIFA Club World Cup in Florida on Thursday, in what is effectively a must-not-lose match for the pair.

Both took a point from their opening match in Group A, but a defeat in the second round of matches would heap pressure on the losing side’s final fixture in the group.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at a game that could be a huge step forward for Inter Miami, spearheaded by Lionel Messi, or two-time Champions League winners, Porto.

What happened in Inter Miami and Porto’s Club World Cup opening games?
Inter Miami, one of the host nation’s representatives, opened the tournament with a 0-0 draw at their home stadium against Al Ahly on Saturday.

The Egyptian giants, the most successful club in world football, dominated the first half but held on in the second as Messi and Co found their footing at the Hard Rock Stadium.

Miami had goalkeeper Oscar Ustari to thank for saving a penalty from Al Ahly forward Trezeguet just before half-time.

Porto were pushed all the way by Brazilian club Palmeiras as they too returned a 0-0 draw in the match played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford – the New Jersey venue that will host both the Club World Cup and FIFA 2026 World Cup finals.

Palmeiras had 17 shots with five on target, compared to Porto’s 11, of which the keeper was only tested on five occasions.

How did Inter Miami qualify for the Club World Cup?
Miami’s qualification was not without controversy. The Floridian club recorded the most points in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) regular season, handing them a place at the Club World Cup instead of LA Galaxy, who won the MLS Cup, which is regarded as the highest prize in the MLS.

FIFA announced Miami’s addition to the Club World Cup in October after they secured the MLS record with a 6-2 win over New England Revolution to reach 74 points – one better than the previous record set by New England in 2021.

How does Porto qualify for the Club World Cup?
Porto qualified for the Club World Cup via the UEFA ranking pathway following their strong Champions League performances between 2021 and 2024.

The 30-time Portuguese league champions won the European Cup in 1987, as it was then named, and the Champions League in 2004.

The Benfica-based club finished 11 points off champions Sporting Lisbon in this season’s Portuguese domestic league.

What is Porto’s take on Inter Miami?
“I watched the match between Miami and Al Ahly. I saw that they are two very tough opponents with a lot of intensity,” Porto’s Argentinean defender, Alan Varela, said.

Commenting on his fellow countryman, Messi, the 23-year-old added: “Inter have the best player in the world, so we’re going to try to play and fight until the end, just like we did [against Palmeiras] and just like the club demands.

“The group is wide open, there is a long way to go. There are still two matches, so we’re going to try to get the victory in each.”

What is David Beckham’s role at Inter Miami?
Former England international Beckham is a co-owner of Miami. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder had a clause in his Major League Soccer contract, during his spell as a player with LA Galaxy, that offered him the chance to buy a future MLS franchise. Beckham took up the opportunity to buy a $25m stake in the franchise, which would become Inter Miami, in 2014.

The Miami-based franchise eventually debuted in 2020 and is also co-owned by American business magnates, Jorge and Jose Mas, although Beckham is very much the figurehead of the club.

Head-to-head
This is the first meeting between the MLS franchise and the Portuguese giants.

Inter Miami team news
Inter Miami have no news injuries to report ahead of the match against Porto, and are expected to name the same starting lineup as they did in the first fixture.

Porto team news
Porto’s stand-in goalkeeper, Claudio Ramos, will start in between the sticks once again following his key performance that frustrated Palmeiras in their opening match.

Ramos is currently deputising for Porto’s injured captain, Diogo Costa, as the Portuguese side are also expected to name an unchanged side.

Inter Miami and Porto potential starting lineups
Inter Miami: Ustari, Fray, Aviles, Falcon, Allen, Allende, Redondo, Busquets; Segovia, Messi, Suarez

Porto: Ramos, Fernandes, Pedro, Marcano, Joao Mario, Varela, Veiga, Moura, Vieira, Mora, Samu

Aljazeera.com

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Messi Extends MLS Record With Latest Brace

Messi Extends MLS Record With Latest Brace

Lionel Messi extended the Major League Soccer record for scoring multiple goals in successive games to five with another double as Inter Miami beat Nashville 2-1 on Saturday.

The Argentina forward scored in each half to draw level with Nashville’s Sam Surridge at the top of the MLS scoring charts with 16 goals in 16 games.

Messi has scored twice in each of those five games, starting with wins over Montreal and Columbus in May, before competing at the Club World Cup.

The 38-year-old scored once in four games as Miami reached the Club World Cup last 16, before returning to the MLS with further doubles against Montreal, New England Revolution and now Nashville.

He opened the scoring in Fort Lauderdale with a low free-kick that went through the Nashville wall after 17 minutes.

Hany Mukhtar levelled for the visitors early in the second half, but Messi intercepted a loose pass from Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to score what proved to be winner after 62 minutes.

The victory keeps Miami in fifth place in the Eastern Conference but moves them to within five points of leaders of Philadelphia with three games in hand.

Bbc.com

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Boniface Prefers Germany, Spain Over Premier League

Boniface Prefers Germany, Spain Over Premier League

Super Eagles and Bayer 04 Leverkusen striker, Victor Okoh Boniface, has revealed why he wouldn’t fancy a move to the English Premier League, according to Soccernet.ng.

The 24-year-old had a brilliant debut season at the Bay Arena, but his second season was a little less so, largely due to the injury problems he suffered.

During the winter transfer window, Al-Nassr were interested in Boniface, but they signed Colombian forward, Jhon Duran instead.

The former Union Saint-Gilloise man has been linked with an exit from Die Werkself, with Newcastle United and AC Milan interested.

The one-time Bundesliga winner has always been clear that he prefers a move to La Liga over England, stating a preference for the style of football in Spain.

“I don’t really like the Premier League. It’s not like if I have the opportunity to go, I won’t take it,” the 2024 UEFA Europa League finalist said on The Culture League podcast alongside Frank Onyeka.

“If I’m going to make that move, it has to be to a certain type of team. “Before I agree to a transfer or join a club, I always look at the type of football they play.

“Will it suit me? Is it a team with too much pressure? because some players can’t perform well under pressure.

“So before I moved to Leverkusen, I had a great season in Belgium. There were offers from England, good money, but I just didn’t want to join that kind of team.

“If you put me in a possession-based side, I’ll give you everything. I can go to a club and be the standout player, but we might lose a game, and everyone points fingers at me.

“From the grassroots level, that’s how I’ve always played. If I’m on the pitch, I bring everyone along with me,” the Super Eagles star concluded.

Boniface is now set for his third season in Germany, this time under Erik Ten Hag, after Xabi Alonso moved to Spain to join Real Madrid.

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Beware Of Chelsea: PSG Get Final Warning Ahead Of Club World Cup Showdown, “We’ll Shock People Today” – James

Chelsea captain Reece James had made a bold statement ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final today, July 13

The England international believes the Blues are not pushovers despite all odds favouring the reigning UEFA Champions League winners

Both teams recorded one loss each during their group stage matches and are expected to light up the MetLife Stadium

Reece James is confident Chelsea will surprise doubters when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday, July 13.

The Ligue 1 giants have been labelled favourites to win the tournament, but the England international said the Blues will make a statement when they clash at the MetLife Stadium

The Premier League side outclassed South American side Fluminense by two goals to nothing in the semi-final last Wednesday, July 9.

New signing Joao Pedro, who was on holiday in Brazil, scored a brace for Chelsea against his boyhood club.

I don’t care- James

Chelsea captain Reece James said he is not bothered about the pedigree of Paris Saint-Germain during the Club World Cup.

According to Daily Mail, the 25-year-old said the Blues are preparing to win the tournament for the second time.

The England star emphasised that had had played for a favourite in the final, where they did not eventually win the trophy, adding that the same fate may befall PSG. He said BBC:

“I want to be honest with you, I do not care that everyone is hyping our opponent. The team is preparing right, and Chelsea is going to the final to win.

“As a player, I have been to many finals before where my team were the favourites but we ended up losing.

“PSG are amazing and we’re expecting a tough game, but we also have an amazing team and we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

Stats on PSG form Paris
Saint-Germain are currently in the best form of their life since Lius Enrique took over as coach.

According to beINSPORTS, PSG have won a treble consisting of the French Cup, Ligue 1 and Champions League, and are a game away from a fourth major trophy of 2025 after dismantling Real Madrid 4-0 in their semi-final last Thursday, July 10.

The French giants have beaten other Premier League sides, Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal, in the Champions League before humbling Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.

Trump confirms presence at CWC final

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