Inter Miami 0 Al Alhy 0: David Beckham watches Messi draw a blank in CWC opener next to Wenger days after knighthood

The Irish Sun

10 hours ago

FORGET the scoreline - this was a knight to remember for Sir David Beckham.
Fresh from
Miami
, nestled into the posh seats alongside
Arsene Wenger
as his
Advertisement
7
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team-mates drew a blank in their Club World Cup opener against Al Ahly
Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
7
Co-owner David Beckham was all smiles before the match as he'd received a knighthood from King Charles just a few days earlier
Credit: ALAMY
7
The new Sir was the centre of attention, with Roberto Baggi, Ronaldo Nazario, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino all embracing him
Credit: AFP
7
Beckham took in the 0-0 draw next to former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
Credit: REUTERS
When he started building an MLS franchise back in 2014, not even Beckham's wildest dreams could've conjured this — his boys in
pink
, led by Lionel Messi, opening FIFA's glitzy new global tournament on home turf.
But here they were, bathed in
Florida
humidity, facing Egyptian titans Al Ahly in what promised to be a baptism by fire.
On the face of it, drawing 0-0 didn't have Becks jumping up for joy.
Yet it was a gritty point which proved his side might not be the pushovers many predicted, even if there will be sterner tests to come in the shape of
Palmeiras
.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON DAVID BECKHAM
The odds coming into last night's clash weren't great.
Miami
have been in freefall in MLS.
Al Ahly — 45-time Egyptian champions and backed by a deafening sea of red in the stands — were tipped to cruise. And they nearly did.
On 42 minutes, they won a penalty - which showcased the new-fangled ref-cam for the first time - but standout keeper
Oscar
Ustari guessed right and denied Trezeguet with a brilliant save.
It was a huge moment that kept Miami afloat.
Advertisement
Most read in Football
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
7
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were anonymous for large parts of the game
Credit: ALAMY
Messi was quiet early on, unusually subdued. Luis Suarez barely got a touch.
But the second half told a different story.
Advertisement
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will see the World's best players decide which club is the greatest
Messi came alive, brushing the post with a trademark free-kick and gradually seizing control.
The tempo lifted and the crowd responded.
Concerns over empty seats at the 65,000 capacity stadium were quickly erased — the place was almost at capacity and rocking with 60,927 taking it all in.
Al Ahly began to fade, drained by the heat and Miami's late surge.
Advertisement
Sub Fafa Picault almost grabbed a late winner, another Messi curler grazed the bar in stoppage time before Egyptian keeper Mohamed El Shenawi pulled off an incredible save at the death from Maxi Falcon's close-range header.
Becks, suit and booted, looked like he was kicking every ball in the stands, grimacing as he was beamed onto the big screen with the game in the balance.
7
But in the end, a draw for the MLS side and their superstar owner was a decent result.
Advertisement
FIFA boss
Not only was the opening match a lively affair, there was no repeat of the nightmare scenes at last year's Copa America final where Colombian and
Argentina
fans stormed into the stadium following lengthy delays to enter.
FIFA, thankfully, installed a ring of steel around the perimeter to keep everyone safe for the first match of the new 32-team tournament.
Miami boss Javier Mascherano said: "We knew we were up against a strong team.
Advertisement
The nerves and anxiety played a trick on us in the first half,.
'But we had our chances to win. The team left a very good impression.
"This is the path forward, playing like this, we can beat anyone.'
7
Inter Miami's participation in the Club World Cup is a dream come true for co-owner David Beckham
Credit: REUTERS
Advertisement