Lionel Messi, the star player for Inter Miami, participated for the full 90 minutes in the 2025 Club World Cup opener at Hard Rock Stadium, where the MLS team faced Al Ahly in a match that ended in a scoreless draw. The 2022 World Cup champion nearly scored but his stunning free-kick struck the side netting. Messi remained a persistent danger whenever he possessed the ball, although he was tightly guarded by the defenders from Al Ahly. Interestingly, the Egyptian team, the most successful in African football, controlled the first half of the Group A match and could have easily scored three or four goals by halftime if not for an outstanding individual display. However, in the second half, the situation changed and Al Ahly relied heavily on their most seasoned player, as they could have ended up leaving the Hard Rock Stadium without any points. Inter Miami is set to play Porto on June 19, while Al Ahly will take on Palmeiras on the same date.
