Al Ahly steal show against Messi's Inter Miami at 2025 Club World Cup
Messi and Inter Miami came to Hard Rock Stadium last Saturday as the Club World Cup’s handpicked opening act, but left with a laborious 0-0 draw, and with waning hopes that they can compete on this first-of-its-kind global stage.
They got exposed at times by the champions of Egypt, Al Ahly, and were fortunate to come away with a point.
They entered the tournament publicly doubting whether they could measure up to what head coach Javier Mascherano call a "level higher than what we've faced in CONCACAF and MLS," and almost instantly, their worries were realised.
In the months and weeks building up to the opener, they were the headliners, supposedly the main attraction. But they were quickly overwhelmed by Al Ahly — by its players, who were organised and sharp; and by its fans, who paraded into the stadium hours before kickoff and made Miami a quasi-road team at home.
For much of the first 45 minutes, the Herons played at an MLS pace, which they soon learned was nowhere near fast enough. They played with MLS intensity, which everyone soon realised was no match for African Champions League intensity.
They were sloppy. And nearly every time they lost the ball, there were gaping holes in their midfield.
Al Ahly would break, sometimes 2-v-2 or 3-v-3. Less than eight minutes in, Trézéguet and Emam Ashour created the first of several chances, but Miami goalkeeper Óscar Ustari made his first of several big saves.
