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Al-Ahly winger Hussein El-Shahat has issued a warning to Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup clash on Saturday (June 14). The two sides will play the opening game of the revamped international club competition that will debut in the United States.
Inter Miami were handed a slot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after winning the Supporters’ Shield in the 2024 season. Apart from that, they were picked as the team to represent the host country.
Al-Ahly, meanwhile, booked their spot in the tournament through their CAF Champions League triumph. The draw, made in December, placed both teams in Group A, and they will take to the field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens to kick off the tournament on Saturday.
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Ahead of the competition’s opener, Hussein El-Shahat, who has been a key player in the Al-Ahly squad, said Lionel Messi is one of the best players in the world. However, he added that his side “will fight and give everything” to try and defeat Inter Miami.
He said (via Kick Off):
"Messi is one of the best players in the world, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, and facing him will certainly be difficult, not just because of his name, but also because of the strength of his entire team. But we will fight and give everything we have to win this difficult match."
He added:
"Our goal as Al Ahly players is to deliver strong performances and continue making history for the club in the Club World Cup. We have great ambitions and enough experience to make us believe we can go as far as possible in the tournament."
Al-Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour says he’s “fired up to face” Lionel Messi in Club World Cup
In another interview, Al-Ahly’s Emam Ashour expressed excitement at the anticipation of facing Lionel Messi in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The Egyptian named Messi as the best player in the world but remained confident of his side's chances in the US-based competition.
Ashour said in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com:
“Of course, I’m incredibly excited to participate in a tournament like this. I hope we can bring joy to our fans.”
On playing against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, he added:
“No doubt, I’m fired up to face the best player in the world. I’m confident that we’re capable of achieving something worthy of our name and the Al Ahly name.”
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of fan support, saying:
“We’re definitely looking forward to having all our fans behind us. Their presence gives any match its true meaning. Without them, it loses so much of its value. My message to them is that we need them to stand by us and support us, as we have always known them to do, in every match and every tournament.”
