Lionel Messi's Inter Miami match during the opening Club World Cup fixture was branded a "snooze fest" by football fans.
Despite drawing an impressive crowd of 60,927 to the 65,000-capacity venue, the Argentine superstar could not inspire his side to victory against Egyptian side Al Ahly in the tournament's opening fixture.
The match failed to live up to pre-tournament expectations, with supporters taking to social media to express their disappointment at the lacklustre spectacle.
Inter Miami owner David Beckham watched from the stands as his team struggled to break down the African giants.
Despite hitting the woodwork twice, Lionel Messi was unable to break the deadlock
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Messi came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the dying seconds when his curled strike from outside the box was deflected onto the crossbar by Al-Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy.
The Argentine had earlier struck the post with a well-placed 25-yard free kick that kissed the woodwork and hit the side netting.
Frustrated supporters voiced their displeasure online, with one describing the match as a "snooze fest" whilst another questioned whether it was "even worth staying up for this game".
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"What a useful competition that is worth all of the injury risk!" another fan sarcastically remarked on X.
The match featured an awkward pre-game moment when streaming sensation IShowSpeed, wearing a Cristiano Ronaldo T-shirt, attempted to catch Messi's attention as the player made his way to the pitch.
Footage showed the Argentine ignoring the social media star, who has built his fame through his worship of Messi's long-time rival, Ronaldo.
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On the pitch, Al-Ahly squandered an early penalty when Oscar Ustari saved Trezeguet's poorly taken spot-kick after Telasco Segovia fouled Zizo in the box.
The Egyptian side, backed by thousands of vocal supporters, created several first-half opportunities but failed to capitalise on their dominance.
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano praised his captain's dedication despite the disappointing result.
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38-year-old Oscar Ustari saved Al-Ahly's penalty
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"It's admirable how much love Messi has for the game," said Mascherano.
"After all the matches he's played, he's still here, giving his all."
The former Argentina midfielder acknowledged the importance of utilising Messi effectively, stating: "Clearly, when we find Leo in positions and get the ball to him in the best way, that's where we have the most options."
Looking ahead to Thursday's clash with FC Porto in Atlanta, Mascherano remained cautious.
"We know that the level will clearly rise in the next game because they're a European opponent," he said.
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