Botafogo pulled off the biggest upset of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 so far and took a huge step towards the last 16 by beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Rose Bowl.
The CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores holders now sit top of Group B, three points clear of both PSG and Atletico de Madrid, after a solitary Igor Jesus goal stunned their UEFA Champions League counterparts.
The French champions PSG now head to Seattle to take on the Sounders with qualification at stake, while Botafogo will only need to take a point against Atletico in LA to be sure of reaching the Round of 16. PSG came into this match on a red-hot six-game winning streak, with FC Internazionale Milano and Atletico de Madrid dispatched by an aggregate score of 9-0 in their two most recent fixtures.
The seemingly unstoppable European champions found Botafogo a tough nut to crack from the start, however, and their failure to capitalise on a dominance of possession was punished nine minutes before half-time, FIFA reports.
Snatching possession, Botafogo launched a lightning counter-attack, with the in-form Igor Jesus showing pace and power to race through on to a Jefferson Savarino pass, hold off two PSG defenders and fire goalwards. The ball took a wicked deflection on its way past the wrong-footed Gianluigi Donnarumma but the Brazilians had earned their good fortune, and the goal – the Botafogo talisman’s fifth in his last seven appearances – was celebrated in justifiably joyous fashion.
Even more surprising, perhaps, is that the expected PSG onslaught never truly materialised.
At no stage did Luis Enrique’s side’s territorial advantage translate to a series of clear-cut chances, and the few efforts they did have were repelled comfortably by John in the Botafogo goal.
Messi’s free-kick lifts Inter Miami over Porto
Lionel Messi struck a stunning free kick to seal a 2-1 comeback victory for Inter Miami over Porto in their FIFA Club World Cup Group A clash on Friday (IST). Porto took the early lead just eight minutes into the match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Inter Miami defender Noah Allen was penalised for a challenge on Joao Mario inside the box following a VAR review.
Samu Aghehowa stepped up and converted the resulting penalty, beating veteran Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari despite the Argentine getting a hand to the ball, reports Xinhua. The Portuguese side nearly doubled its advantage before halftime when midfielder Alan Varela’s powerful strike from 20 yards hit the post. The rebound deflected off Ustari’s back, but the keeper managed to collect the ball just before it crossed the line. Inter Miami, who managed only six touches inside Porto’s box in the first half, came out energised after the break and found the equaliser in the 47th minute. Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia latched onto a cross from Marcelo Weigandt and fired the ball into the top corner.
The Major League Soccer side completed its comeback just seven minutes later. Luis Suarez earned a free kick on the edge of Porto’s penalty area, and Messi stepped up to curl an exquisite set piece into the top right corner.
The win lifts Inter Miami to second place in Group A with four points from one win and one draw, trailing Brazil’s Palmeiras only on goal difference. Porto and Al Ahly follow with one point each. Inter Miami will host group leader Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium on June 23 in their final group fixture.