With the crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium chanting his name, Messi's left-footed blast cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner in the 54th minute.

After a disappointing goalless draw against Egyptian team Al Ahly to open the tournament Saturday, the win puts Miami in a prime position to reach the knockout rounds.

Both sides contested goalless draws in their respective opening matches, but the deadlock was broken after only eight minutes in Atlanta through a controversial Porto penalty.

Noah Allen was penalised for a challenge on João Mário after a VAR review, and Samu Aghehowa dispatched the subsequent penalty, despite Óscar Ustari getting a strong hand to the ball.

But Miami restored parity just two minutes into the second half thanks to Telasco Segovia’s emphatic first-time finish from Marcelo Weigandt’s cross at the end of a sweeping move.

Javier Mascherano’s side then turned the game on its head seven minutes later through a very familiar source, courtesy of a trademark free-kick from a certain seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Messi caressed a set-piece past Ramos with his first shot of the match, sending the Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd into raptures.

The win moves Miami to four points, level with Palmeiras at the top of Group A, ahead of those two teams facing off in the final round of group matches Monday. Porto and Al Ahly trail on one point apiece.

A draw will guarantee Miami a place in the round of 16.