Club World Cup, Messi enchants but it's not enough: Al Ahly-Inter Miami draw
For someone who has won everything there is to win , who has written record after record and who in the collective imagination shares with Diego Armando Maradona the scepter of the greatest footballer of all time, it is easy to imagine that his debut in the Club World Cup against Al Ahly (which ended 0-0) was not the most heartfelt match in his legendary history . And yet, Leo Messi would have liked to present himself to the American public, which has already been his for a couple of years now, with his indelible signature. He failed to do so by a hair's breadth , between a near-post and a crossbar in the 96th minute caused by the miraculous intervention of the Arab goalkeeper El Shenawy, at the end of a parabola so curved that it could only have died out under the crossbar.
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Especially in a competition that has taken the veil off for the first time, right with the debut of the Pulga, Leo would have wanted to write his name. Acclaimed by the people, even with every little touch , because we know that Messi's left foot is something decidedly different from that of his colleagues. Even the most famous ones, let alone those of the crew present, with the exception of a couple of elements, on the pitch of the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
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Among the “old glories” are both Sergi Busquets and a certain Luis Suarez , Messi’s “snack” buddy at Barcelona in the then magic trident completed by Neymar, but the one who takes the stage, at least in the first half, is Ustari: the Inter Miami goalkeeper outdoes himself on a couple of occasions and, not satisfied, at the end of the half he hypnotizes Trezeguet from the spot, denying him the joy on the rebound as well. If the American goalkeeper does much more than the ordinary administration, Lionel at least in the first 45 minutes trots along. A free kick, a couple of corners, a few touches in the midfield area, a warning requested, but not granted by the referee, and little else. In short, for a phenomenon like Messi, nothing or more.
But when you are a champion without borders, you are regardless of the context, the opponent and even your age. He will be 38 years old on June 24, a demographic fact that should lead to a further decline as the minutes pass. Instead, in the second half Leo decides to give emotions in abundance . More in the thick of the action, more determined to make an impact, with a different focus, with the look of someone who wants to leave his mark. A first shot in the 56th minute, saved without problems by the Arab goalkeeper El Shenawy, a chocolate served to Weigandt (59') with a delicious outside, and a free kick (69') that makes the whole stadium scream but that is only a great illusion.
The ball kicked with the usual mastery caresses the side of the post and ends up on the outside of the net, when everyone had already stood up to celebrate him and to celebrate what would have been the first goal of the Club World Cup. The shots go to the stands: there are those who scream, those who curse and despair, because seeing the Argentine score is always a good thing and because not enjoying one of his goals would leave too much of a bitter taste. Everyone admires him. From the president of FIFA Gianni Infantino to an icon like Roberto Baggio, passing through Javier Zanetti, vice president of Inter, and David Bechkam, president of Messi himself . Leo wants to show that he is still a totem. And, by underlining how Al Ahly is not the most difficult team on the planet, he succeeds. The ball he bowls onto Fafa's head (82') is sublime, the one he directs into the top corner (96'), and which only a super El Shenawy intercepts, sings and would have deserved a much better fate.
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