Ustari ataja el penalti y salva al Inter Miami 

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Messi debuts at the 2025 Club World Cup with Inter Miami against Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will be the main attraction as the new FIFA 2025 Club World Cup kicks off this Saturday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Inter Miami, winners of the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield, will open the highly anticipated Club World Cup 2025 with a clash against Egyptian giants Al Ahly, in the first of 63 matches that will crown the champion on July 13 in New Jersey.

Inter Miami enters the Club World Cup with Messi in top form

Led by coach Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami CF finds itself in a competitive group alongside Palmeiras (Brazil) and Porto (Portugal), both powerhouses of their respective leagues. Messi, now 37 and turning 38 on June 24, comes into the Club World Cup 2025 in spectacular form: he has scored 5 goals and delivered 3 assists in his last 3 games. He was recently named MLS Player of the Month and has totaled 10 goals and 6 assists in just 13 matches this season, following his MLS MVP campaign with 21 goals and 18 assists in 2024.

Inter Miami bounces back and rekindles hope

After a rough patch with only one win in eight matches and an early CONCACAF Champions League semifinal exit, Inter Miami regained momentum with emphatic wins over CF Montréal (4-2) and Columbus Crew (5-1). Luis Suárez, the Uruguayan forward, has returned to form with 3 goals in his last 2 appearances. Veterans like Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also bring elite experience from their time in European football, making Inter Miami vs Al Ahly one of the most anticipated matchups of the opening round.

Alfonso Mondelo praises MLS development

“This is an important step for MLS, being able to compete with historic international clubs. This kind of global exposure helps us grow,” said Alfonso Mondelo, Sporting Director of Major League Soccer, in an interview with EFE. “It’s an honor that MLS teams are now part of world-class tournaments like the FIFA Club World Cup.”

Al Ahly, the African powerhouse aiming to shock the world

Al Ahly SC, 45-time Egyptian Premier League champions and 12-time CAF Champions League winners, arrive at the 2025 Club World Cup as reigning continental champions, having won the African title in 2021, 2023, and 2024. Under new coach José Riveiro, who previously led Orlando Pirates to five trophies in South African football, Al Ahly seeks to make a strong statement on the world stage. Riveiro replaced Marcel Koller in April and now faces the ultimate challenge: defeating Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on American soil.