Inter Miami star Lionel Messi played all 90 minutes as the MLS club was held to a goalless draw by Al Ahly in Sunday’s 2025 Club World Cup opener at Hard Rock Stadium.

The 2022 World Cup winner could have broken the deadlock, but his beautiful free-kick hit the side of the net.

Messi was a constant threat each time he was with the ball, but then he was closely marked by the Al Ahly defenders.

Interestingly, the Egyptian side, the most decorated team in African football, dominated the first-half of the Group A encounter and quite easily could have been three or four goals up by the break had it not been for a brilliant individual performance.

However, the roles were reversed in the second half and Al Ahly were the ones left indebted to the most experienced player on their team, as they easily could have left the Hard Rock Stadium empty-handed.

Inter Miami will next face Porto on June 19, while Al Ahly will battle Palmeiras on the same day.

https://www.completesports.com/messi-features-as-al-ahly-hold-inter-miami-in-2025-club-world-cup-opener/