Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Egypt's Al Ahly Battle to Scoreless Draw in Club World Cup Opener

Neither Lionel Messi nor Egypt's Al Ahly could find the net in a gripping Club World Cup opener on Saturday night at Miami Gardens, Florida.

Amid roaring support from over 60,000 fans at Hard Rock Stadium, Messi, Argentina's football titan with eight Ballon d’Or titles, unleashed a curling shot from distance in the 96th minute. Goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy, however, had other plans as he tipped the ball onto the crossbar, denying Miami the win.

Earlier, Messi grazed the post with a tantalizing free kick in the 60th minute, teasing the spectators with flashes of his genius, yet leaving the scoreboard untapped.

Miami's fortunes shone brightly when veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari emerged as the hero, saving a penalty from Al Ahly's forward Trezeguet just before halftime. The 38-year-old Argentine was immense throughout the first half, thwarting Al Ahly repeatedly, ensuring that Miami stayed in the contest.

The game ended in a stalemate, leaving both teams in a tough spot as they aim to progress from Group A, which also features heavyweights Palmeiras from Brazil and Portugal's FC Porto. The top two will secure their spots in the round of 16.

Despite being under siege early on, Inter Miami found their footing post-break, crafting enticing chances. Messi remained central to their second-half surge, with both his free kick and long-range effort rattling the woodwork. The whispers of what might have been lingered amongst Miami fans.

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano reflected, "It was a good party for football. It’s a new competition and the chance to play teams we don’t normally face. This can be very good for us to prove what we can do."

Al Ahly's Wessam Abou Ali shared his frustration stating, "I’m disappointed with the result. We respect Inter Miami and their big-name players, but we could’ve finished the game in the first half by scoring three or four goals."