Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup on a patented free kick in the 54th minute to break a tie in Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Porto FC on Thursday in Atlanta.

Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field. With chants of “Messi! Messi!” rocking Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 37-year-old Argentine star’s left-footed blast cleared the wall and sailed into the top right corner.

Inter Miami tied it at 1-all on Telasco Segovia’s goal two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt.

Messi’s goal serves as a continuation of good form in the calendar year. Though the team has had a slow start, he has 10 goals and six assists in 12 starts in MLS. It felt like a home game for Miami, with an overwhelmingly pink crowd in Atlanta.

“The whole team made a great effort,” Messi told DAZN. “We controlled the ball very well, and we’re very happy.”

With Messi’s 38th birthday less than a week away, his continued success is a positive sign for fans, including the thousands wearing No. 10 jerseys inside the stadium, that his retirement is still a ways away.

The MLS club and two-time European champion Porto were held to scoreless draws 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.”

Atletico Madrid 3, Seattle Sounders 1: Pablo Barrios scored twice and Atletico Madrid beat the Seattle Sounders on their home turf.

Giuliano Simeone found Barrios at the top of the penalty box in transition to open the scoring in the 11th minute.

Madrid pushed the lead to 2-0 in the opening minutes of the second half as substitute Axel Witsel scored off an assist by Robin Le Normand in the 47th.

Albert Rusnak got Seattle on the scoreboard in the 50th, but Barrios got his second of the game in the 55th to restore Madrid’s two-goal lead.

“The most difficult thing in football is creating chances. We created many opportunities today, but weren’t fortunate enough to score more goals. But that’s in the past now, and we’re already focusing on Botafogo,” Atlético Madrid midfielder Koke said. “We will need to do as well or better than today. We want to qualify for the knockout stage, so we need to keep winning.”

Palmeiras 2, Al-Ahly 0: Palmeiras benefited from an own goal by Al-Ahly’s Wessam Abou Ali and secured the win on a shot by José López before thunderstorms stalled play in East Rutherford, N.J.

Both the Brazilian Palmeiras and Egyptian Al-Ahly clubs had opportunities after the restart from a 50-minute weather delay, but Al-Ahly could not overcome its defensive struggles.

Abou Ali headed the ball into his own net just minutes into the second half. The goal started an offensive surge for Palmeiras, which broke away in the 59th minute for López’s goal. He kicked a left-footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner, with an assist from Maurício.

Weather delayed the match a couple of minutes later. The approximately 35,000 fans in attendance were ordered to take shelter before they returned to their seats for the restart.

Four yellow cards were handed out in the first half. Palmeiras’ Raphael Veiga received a red in the 38th minute, but it was downgraded to yellow following a VAR check.