Messi and Inter Miami receive a reality check at the start of the Club World Cup.

Time passes. It's inevitable. And in football, it's noticeable, just like in life. The legs weigh more, and the mind doesn't solve problems with the same agility. Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, and Leo Messi know this, and age doesn't forgive them. Their Inter Miami side , which is growing around them, especially the Argentine, was given a reality check by Al Ahly at the start of the Club World Cup . A 0-0 draw that, pending matches against Palmeiras and Porto , puts their qualification for the round of 16 on dangerous ground. The Egyptians missed a penalty, and Ustari saved an Inter side that reacted in the final stretch but couldn't beat African goalkeeper El Shenawy . Messi timidly hit the posts from a long-range free kick and a cross, but at 37, the ball doesn't feel the same for him. Of course.

Hard Rock Stadium took a while to fill, but it was finally nearly at capacity (60,927 according to FIFA), a significant number considering the previous rumors about panic in Miami over the presence of Donald Trump's border police around the stadium. Egyptian fans crowded into the stands and competed head-to-head with the Latino fans, who were rooting for Inter and, above all, Messi.

The Argentine received the most applause at the unusual presentation of the starting lineups. The players walked one by one along the side of the field, forming a corridor on a black carpet that ended at the center circle. " Messi, Messi, " chanted the crowd as the number 10, the last to step onto the pitch, ran toward the Club World Cup.

The match, however, showed Inter Miami at their true level. Before the match, Florida's coach, Mascherano , had acknowledged that they weren't at the level to make it far in the tournament , and the Hard Rock Stadium's turf confirmed it.

Al Ahly were physically, technically, and collectively superior throughout the first half, and only Óscar Ustari, the 38-year-old former Getafe goalkeeper , prevented Egypt from taking a resounding victory at halftime. Busquets struggled in midfield, and Suárez and Messi didn't appear until the second half.

The Africans, with Galician José Riveiro on the bench, were forgiving. Abou Ali , the star striker, repeatedly clashed with Ustari, the goalkeeper saved a header from Ibrahim , and Trezeguet , the best player on the African team, missed a penalty in the 41st minute that Ustari saved by flying to the right flank.

The halftime tie woke up Inter, who came out of the locker room with a different face. After Kaká, Del Piero, Agüero, Djorkaeff, and Pepe played with YouTuber Speed ​​to see who could hit the crossbar during the break, Messi led the American comeback.

Allende missed a rebound from point-blank range against El Shenawy, and Messi had his first clear chance in the 56th minute, when he tried his trademark curling effort from the edge of the box and forced the Egyptian goalkeeper to stretch. Mascherano's team grew into the match, with the Argentine taking over as much of the ball as possible.

Leo came close to scoring again in the 63rd minute, with an exquisite free kick that curled around the outside of the wall and touched the Al Ahly post, to the momentary delight of the home crowd, who became desperate in the final minutes with interventions by El Shenawy, preventing Picault, Falcon and Messi from scoring after a cross shot that ended up hitting the crossbar .