Messi Fires Blanks as Al Ahly MidfielderInjured in Opener with Inter Miami - THISDAYLIVE
*Bayern Munich hammer Auckland City 10-0 in record win
Al Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour will miss the remainder of the 2025 Club World Cup after scans confirmed he had suffered a broken collarbone, the Egyptian club announced yesterday as the FIFA’s new 32-team tournament got off to a smooth start in front of 60,927 fans in Florida
Ashourleft the opening match of the revamped competition against Inter Miami, which ended in a goalless draw, in tears after injuring his shoulder.
“Medical examinations on Emam Ashour in a Miami hospital showed he sustained a broken collarbone, and he will miss the remaining matches in the Club World Cup,” Al Ahlydoctor Ahmed Gaballah said via the club’s account on X.
Ashour, who had previously suffered a serious shoulder injury while playing for the Egyptian national team in 2024, initially fell early in the game and received treatment on the sidelines before returning briefly and missing a one-on-one chance.
However, the 27-year-old Egyptian Premier League top scorer was unable to continue and asked to be substituted in the 14th minute, being replaced by Ahmed Sayed(Zizo).
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano was upbeat despite his Lionel Messi-led team drawing 0-0 with Egyptian side Al Ahly.
Messi was denied a storybook stoppage-time winner when he saw his curling shot from 20 yards out tipped onto the bar by Mohamed El Shenawy as Miami piled on the pressure in the final minutes of the game.
“The truth is we leave with the feeling that we could have won it in the second half,” said Mascherano.
Elsewhere, yesterday, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich hit double figures against Auckland City in Cincinnati to record the biggest 10-0 win in the history of the Club World Cup.
Vincent Kompany’s side outclassed the New Zealand part-timers, with Jamal Musiala scoring a hat-trick and Thomas Muller grabbing two goals as his long farewell to the club continued.
Bayern took the lead through Kingsley Coman’s sixth-minute header as the floodgates opened early.