Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano has expressed his astonishment at Lionel Messi's unwavering desire to win, even at this stage of his illustrious career. This sentiment came after Inter Miami's surprising 2-1 victory over Porto in the Club World Cup on Thursday.

Messi, the veteran playmaker, secured the win with a stunning free-kick, earning him the man-of-the-match award at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Mascherano emphasized that it wasn't just Messi's exceptional talent that stood out, but his relentless competitive spirit at 37 years old.

"Beyond his goal... he's a player who shows us how to compete, his hunger, his desire to continue competing at whatever level it is," Mascherano told reporters. "In a footballing sense, what else is there to say? He's the best player that has played this sport in its history, but what is surprising is his will to win."

Mascherano highlighted Messi's commitment, even in the match's final moments, despite fatigue and a minor injury. He noted Messi's continuous effort to aid the team in any capacity, both offensively and defensively, to secure the victory.

"Today, even in the last minutes, tired, with a knock, he kept helping the team in any way he could, in attack, in defence, to get the result..." Mascherano said. "We know having him gives us an advantage, but above all, through his contagious spirit, the winning spirit that he has."

Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets, a former teammate of Messi's at Barcelona and a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning team, acknowledged the challenge Porto presented. He said, "They have very good players, they have reinforced and we know that it will be very difficult. They are a team that compete every year for their league, against other great teams like Sporting and Benfica. We will try to be as solid as possible, stick close together and try to do the best we can as a team."

Many had anticipated a Porto victory, but Inter Miami defied expectations, achieving a historic first win for an MLS team against a Portuguese side in a competitive match.

Ahead of the match, concerns arose when a video surfaced showing Messi touching his left leg during a training session. However, Mascherano quickly dispelled any worries, affirming that Messi was fit and had completed the entire training session. "On the trip from Miami to Atlanta I saw that came out in some places, but Leo is fit, he trained, he completed the whole session," Mascherano told reporters. "He was touching his leg, sometimes people touch themselves, but there's no problem, he's fit and obviously he will play tomorrow."

Mascherano also confirmed that Jordi Alba was available for selection after missing the previous match due to injury. He emphasized the importance of retaining possession against Porto, a team accustomed to dominating possession themselves. "We have players who feel much more comfortable when they're in possession, dominating, and having control of the game through the ball," said Mascherano. "Of course, we're facing a team that also is used to doing that, who are a high level side. But on the pitch we're 11 against 11, we'll try to shut down their strengths, expose their weaknesses and try to have a great game to get a good result."