Messi falls just short in Club World Cup curtain-raiser stalemate

MIAMI :Lionel Messi showed flashes of his brilliance as his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly in the revamped Club World Cup opener.

Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar.

Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta while Al-Ahly will take on Palmeiras in New York.