Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami did not win the opening match of the Club World Cup on Saturday night (Dutch time). Despite some highlights from Messi, the club did not get past a draw against Al Ahly.
The Egyptian Al Ahly came closest to taking the lead, but Mahmoud Trezeguet missed a penalty in the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami at the stroke of halftime. He was stopped by Argentinian goalkeeper Óscar Ustari.
Messi mainly showed his class after halftime. After an hour, the Argentinian star kissed the outside of the post from a free kick from about 25 meters. There was a lot of cheering in the stadium: thousands of spectators thought the ball was in.
The highlight of the eight-time winner of the Golden Ball was yet to come. In the last minute of extra time, Messi curled the ball from the right side of the field towards the intersection, but the ball ended up on the crossbar via the fingertips of the keeper.
Thus, Inter Miami and Messi experience a disappointing start to the new form of the Club World Cup in the United States. With former FC Barcelona stars Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets, much is expected of coach and former top player Javier Mascherano’s team.