He had some moving. Even exciting. The premiere in the Club World Cup between Al-Ahly, the Egyptian champion, the Colossus of Africa, and Inter Miami, the franchise that demonstrates the power of the industry in the United States. And it happened in Miami. That was when Leo MessI, already in the added time of the premiere of the Club World Cup, another multi -million dollar invention of the FIFA to squeeze the business until the last moment of the course, began to run desperately.
He ran, but back because his team had lost control of the ball with a corner kick in favor. And Messi, disguised with the clothing of a lifelong defense, rode to recover the position with a solidarity that shuddered because his legs – he has 37 years freshly fulfilled – had to accompany, yes or yes, the orders of such a privileged brain.
'The defense Leo' returned to save, at least, the tie in the opening party. And he returned in time for Ustari, the former goalkeeper who passed through Almería and Getafe (38 years), could enjoy the penalty that stopped in the first half. A first half where little was seen, discouraged by Inter Miami and surpassed by Al-Ahly.
“When we found Messi we had options, that's the way,” admitted Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami coach. He was right. In the initial 45 minutes of the Argentine '10'. Just two shots with a certain tino sustained by that blessed left foot, which will never age. And less in stock up ball actions.
The change came after the break
The second half, once I found Leo, was radically different. He grabbed the ball by dictating a huge commitment lesson. And, at the same time, football. Little by little, Africans were losing the hegemony they had then delivered to the extraordinary hands of Mohamed el-Shenowy, His extraordinary goalkeeper, another who lives at 36, his third, and last, football age.
The-Shenawy, the goalkeeper of the Al-Ahly, diverts the kick of Messi that then repels the crossbar in the added time of the match against Inter Miami. / AFP / Roberto Schmidt
Between Ustari (eight stops, including the penalty that frustrated Trezeguet) and the African goal (five stops, two of them monumental like that hand that crosses in the path of a mess of Messi that then spits the crossbar and head, yes, the head!, Which allows him to intercept the header of Falcon) emerged the figure of the '10'. The party's landscape did not invite great things, but Messi, in another exercise of commitment to the game, rebelled. And he did it big.
Asking, and staying, the ball. Breaking the resistance of Al-Ahly, who in those minutes was surpassed by the dimension of the phenomenon in front of him. And to all that is always added that competitive pride that will never abandon him. He issued a lesson in the second part by appearing in all areas of the field, located, sometimes, along with Busquets, such if it were a defensive midfielder.
Messi launches a foul in the first match of the Club World Cup against Al Ahly. / AFP / CHANDAN KHANNA
Luis Suárez, his friend and partner at Barça, was barely seen in the countryside. Only two shots and one of them, at the end of the first half, found the goal. Then, nothing more, regardless of the teasing that did not stop making Alirezza Fragani, an Iranian referee, but Australian nationalized.
It contrasted that atony and impotence that the Uruguayan striker exhibited with the excitement shown by the Argentine, in another exercise of football rebellion. Incomplete exercise because he lacked the goal.
Messi was stealing balls thanks to a pressure in which nothing was accompanied, having, at the same time, an excellent offensive production: seven auctions: two at the door, two to the stick, one blocked by the Egyptian defense and two who left out, both in the first half. There was a foul, already in the second part (m. 64), in which thousands of people sang a goal, confused because the ball was entangled on the network, but on the outside, brushing the right stick of El-Shenawy.
And the debut in Miami, in his new house, ended with Messi running desperately backwards, such if it were Puyol, to keep the 0-0 treasure with the frustration that accompanied him because the-Shenowy, the Egyptian goal, prevented him from going through history as the first player who scored a goal in the Club World Cup.
