A crazy finale for Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly: from Messi's near-goal to goalkeeper El Shenawy's header.

The table was set: the first Club World Cup with 32 teams, the presence of the greatest player in history with his Inter Miami, a false 0-0 scoreline, and the final ball in his left foot. Lionel Messi fooled everyone when he didn't go for the Olympic corner—that move that became an obsession because he never scored a goal like that—as in all the previous ones, but instead took a short touch and waited for the return, before attempting a curling cross-shot to the far post that was tucked in just in the corner, until Mohamed El Shenawy's saving hand appeared for Al Ahly of Egypt . It was the dream start, the perfect start to a tournament that has its baptism, but it wasn't to be.

MESSI ALMOST SCORES A GOAL AT THE END!

El-Shenawy made an incredible save to prevent Inter Miami from winning the opening match. #ClubWorldCupInDSPORTS | #FIFACWC

The game is being played on #DIRECTV and #DGO ! pic.twitter.com/ShX8UTOUjc

— DSPORTS (@DSports) June 15, 2025

The more than 60,000 fans at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami thrilled with a wild finish to an entertaining first match in Group A between one of the hosts, despite the fact that the match wasn't at home and there were many Egyptians in the stands cheering for the Red Devils, the most powerful team in that African nation. El Shenawy, 36, the Egyptian national team's goalkeeper, made three consecutive saves.

The 191-centimeter-tall captain first headed Haitian Fabrice Picault over the bar. Then came the detailed play before Messi. From that corner from the right came the Uruguayan connection between Suárez and Falcón, who headed in inside the six-yard box, a shot that El Shenawy fortunately deflected with his head .

The fans were left choked by Messi's goal cry on a couple of occasions , but that one at the end, along with a free kick in the 64th minute that went wide of the right post and even caused many to celebrate in the stands, were the most dangerous for the 'Pulga'. Inter Miami, who had Argentine goalkeeper Óscar Ustari as a star, saving a penalty and several other chances, balanced out a poor first half thanks to the 38-year-old Rosario native's level of play.