Messi Magic Falls Just Short as Inter Miami and Al-Ahly Draw

It had the Messi hype. The stadium buzz. And almost a Hollywood ending — but not quite.

The newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup kicked off in Miami with a high-energy showdown between Inter Miami and Egyptian giants Al-Ahly, ending in a dramatic 0-0 draw that still managed to thrill 60,927 fans packed into Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night.

Lionel Messi, the reason most fans showed up in the first place, came painfully close to stealing the win in the final seconds — his signature curling shot deflected onto the crossbar by Al-Ahly’s goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy.

“There’s a lot of excitement to see Messi, it’s the same for everyone,” said Adan De La Rosa, who flew in from Mexico just to catch a glimpse of the GOAT.

While Messi flickered throughout the match — a cheeky 25-meter free kick that grazed the post here, a floated assist to Fafa Picault there — he couldn’t quite break through Al-Ahly’s sturdy defense.

Backed by a massive wave of passionate fans, Al-Ahly came in hot with two early chances and even earned a penalty in the first half. But the moment fizzled when Oscar Ustari saved Trezeguet’s weak attempt, keeping Miami alive.

After halftime, Inter Miami found their rhythm. Picault’s header from a Messi cross was tipped over, and in the final moments, that iconic left foot nearly delivered, only for Elshenawy to deny him yet again.

Saturday’s game wasn’t just about the scoreline — it was a proof-of-concept for FIFA’s Club World Cup 2.0, which now features 32 teams and comes just a year ahead of the men’s World Cup in the US.

Inter Miami, who typically average just over 20,000 at their home stadium, blew the roof off with over 60k fans, showing just how much of a draw Messi still is in 2025.

Next up, Inter Miami heads to Atlanta for a clash with FC Porto, while Al-Ahly will meet Palmeiras in New York, where even more red-clad supporters are expected to show up in force.

And the action isn’t slowing down. On Sunday, Champions League kings Paris Saint-Germain face Atletico Madrid, while Bayern Munich takes on Auckland City, keeping the Club World Cup energy rolling.

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