Lionel Messi and his star-studded squad at Inter Miami were forced to settle for a goalless draw against Egypt’s Al Ahly in a dramatic opener to the Club World Cup on Saturday night. Despite the roaring atmosphere and near-capacity crowd at Hard Rock Stadium, the Argentine maestro couldn’t quite break through, although he came agonizingly close in the dying moments.
The match was part of Group A in the newly-expanded 32-team Club World Cup, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. More than 60,000 fans poured into the home of the Miami Dolphins, many hoping to witness Messi’s magic firsthand. Though he delivered plenty of flair and finesse, the breakthrough goal never came.
Inter Miami, still relatively young on the world football stage, weathered an early storm. The 12-time African champions, Al Ahly, came out swinging, pushing hard in the opening half with a barrage of attacks. The pressure reached its peak when Zizo was brought down in the box by Telasco Segovia, resulting in a penalty. But Miami’s goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari, rose to the occasion, brilliantly saving Trézéguet’s poorly-placed spot-kick and keeping his side in the game.
“We’re a young team, but we’re growing fast,” said Ustari after the game. “People may not realize it, but just a few years ago, Inter Miami didn’t even exist. And now, here we are, fighting at the Club World Cup. That’s not just special—it’s historic.”
The first half clearly belonged to Al Ahly, who dominated possession and created more chances, but Inter Miami looked much sharper in the second half. Messi, who had earlier taken a knock to his knee, slowly found his rhythm and began orchestrating attacks. His curling 25-yard free kick left fans gasping as it shaved the post and kissed the side netting.
Then, with just six minutes left, Messi floated a masterful cross into the box, landing perfectly on the head of Fafà Picault, only to be denied by a superb save from Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. And just when it seemed the night might end without fireworks, Messi created one last bit of magic. In the final seconds, he curled a stunning shot from outside the area—but once again, El Shenawy came to the rescue, tipping the ball onto the crossbar and preserving the deadlock.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano, speaking after the match, admitted the team was a little shaky in the beginning. “In the first half, we were nervous. We didn’t play our usual style, didn’t move the ball around as we should have,” he said. “But in the second half, we showed our quality, we created chances, and we could’ve easily walked away with three points. I’m proud of how we responded.”
Meanwhile, Al Ahly’s Wessam Abou Ali couldn’t hide his frustration. “We respected Inter Miami, sure. But we should’ve finished the game in the first half. We had three, maybe four clear chances. It’s disappointing not to win.”
Off the pitch, the game unfolded against the backdrop of political demonstrations. Earlier that morning, around 1,000 protesters had gathered near Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, roughly 70 miles north of the stadium, as part of a coordinated "No Kings" movement. Despite the protest activity, no incidents were reported at the match.
Since Messi’s blockbuster arrival in 2023, Inter Miami has evolved from a fledgling MLS side into a massive attraction. While their home games average 20,663 fans at the 21,550-seat Chase Stadium, their away fixtures now routinely set attendance records. The buzz surrounding Messi has not only lifted the club’s profile but also added a whole new dimension to American soccer.
Inter Miami will now look ahead to their next Group A clash against FC Porto, scheduled for Thursday in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Al Ahly heads to New York to face Palmeiras, where they’re expected to be cheered on by an even larger contingent of supporters.
The Club World Cup action continues on Sunday, with Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain facing Atlético Madrid, and German powerhouse Bayern Munich taking on Auckland City. With high-profile clashes ahead, the tournament is just heating up—and Messi and Inter Miami are right in the heart of it.
Description:
"Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami was held to a 0-0 draw by Al Ahly in their Club World Cup opener. Despite a packed stadium, missed penalty saves and late heroics, neither team could find the back of the net in this high-octane showdown."