Al Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim explains confrontation with Lionel Messi at Club World Cup

Al Ahly SC defender Yasser Ibrahim has revealed the reason behind his tense exchange with Lionel Messi during their clash with Inter Miami CF at the FIFA Club World Cup.

The heated moment occurred during the opening match of the tournament when television cameras captured a brief confrontation between the two players, with Messi reacting strongly before the pair went head-to-head on the pitch.

Speaking on a satirical prank show, Ibrahim explained that the incident began after his teammate Marwan Attia went down with what appeared to be a muscle problem.

According to the Egyptian defender, the Al Ahly players expected the opposition to stop the play so the injured midfielder could receive medical attention. However, Inter Miami continued their attacking move, which frustrated Ibrahim and led to the confrontation with Messi.

Ibrahim said the tension of the moment caused him to react emotionally, leading to an exchange of words with the Argentine superstar during the match.

During the altercation, the defender also made a gesture implying that Messi was short in height, a move that sparked widespread discussion among fans and observers at the time. Ibrahim later admitted that the gesture was intended to provoke the Inter Miami captain in the heat of the moment.

Despite the brief clash, the situation did not escalate further, and the match continued without additional incidents.

The confrontation quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament after images and clips circulated widely across social media, although Al Ahly’s campaign eventually ended with the Egyptian side exiting the competition in the first round.