Messi fit as injuries weigh on Inter Miami before Club World Cup

Veteran defender Jordi Alba has been ruled out of Inter Miami's opening FIFA Club World Cup clash against Al Ahly due to a leg muscle injury, head coach Javier Mascherano said on Friday.

The Major League Soccer club will also be without Italian midfielder Yannick Bright and Argentine defender Gonzalo Lujan for Saturday's tournament curtain-raiser at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

"They won't be available for this match but we hope that, for the second game [against Porto], one or two of them could return," Mascherano told a news conference.

Mascherano bemoaned his team's mounting injury list, but expressed confidence that his squad's younger players could provide cover.

"We have unfortunately had a lot of injuries in the last 20 days, which clearly has weakened us as a group, but not as a team," the former Liverpool and Barcelona player said.

"We've shown throughout the season that we have players ready to step up and that puts us much more at ease."

While Inter Miami qualified for the Club World Cup by clinching the Supporters' Shield for the best overall record in the 2024 MLS season, Al Ahly secured its spot as winners of the 2020-21, 2022-23, and 2023-24 CAF Champions League.

Mascherano said his team would not underestimate the Egyptian club, which last month appointed Spaniard Jose Riveiro as head coach, replacing Marcel Koller.

"Al Ahly is one of the biggest teams in Africa," the Argentine said. "It's a team that wins in its league with certain regularity and comfort.

"They've had five or six signings for this tournament, which is something that we haven't done, and they changed their head coach a short while ago. But we don't think they will change the way they play. They have a clear style and they are physical. And we know that they have some very good players, especially in the middle of the pitch and in attack."

Mascherano also pointed to the strong form and physical condition of captain Lionel Messi, expressing optimism about the Argentine's impact in the tournament.

"He's been in great shape this season," Mascherano said. "We've rested him at times, but he's played 15 of the last 16 games, only missing the match against Dallas when we rested the whole team.

"Now it's our responsibility to create the ideal environment for him to shine."