Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, FIFA, Football
Ben McCrum
Lionel Messi broke strict FIFA protocol during the Club World Cup that no other player has done so far.
On Thursday evening, footballing great Messi led Inter Miami to a crucial 2-1 win over Porto in their second fixture of the Club World Cup.
After conceding an penalty early in the first half, the Argentine's side came out firing in the second half, scoring two goals within the first nine minutes of kick off.
Midfielder Telasco Segovia scored the MLS side's first goal of the match before Messi scored a spectacular free kick to win the match and significantly boost Inter Miami's chances of making it to the round of 16.
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However, immediately after the match one reporter following Inter Miami noticed that the Barcelona legend broke one strict protocol that all players have been following during the competition.
Messi's impressive performance during the match led to him being named the Superior Player of the Match.
So far throughout the tournament, the player given the award as held a postgame press conference but, despite hopes within the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, journalist Franco Panizo confirmed that Messi decided not to on Thursday.
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Messi did speak in a Flash Zone interview with DAZN, but decided against the official official FIFA Superior Player of the Match press conference.
Inter Miami will be back in action for their final group stage match of the Club World Cup in the early hours of Tuesday morning, as they take on Brazil's Palmeiras at the Hard Rock Stadium.
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A win in the match would guarantee them a spot in the next round but, even if they were to lose, FIFA's official rules mean that it is safe to assume that Inter Miami will almost certainly make it to the round of 16.
The American club's win over Porto means that they now boast a better goal difference than the Portuguese side, meaning that should they finish on the same points after match day three, Inter Miami will progress.
As it stands, Inter Miami have a goal difference of +1 while Porto sits with -1, meaning that the MLS team could advance to next round due to their head-to-head result even if they lose to Palmeiras and Porto beats Al Ahly.