Oscar Ustari Takes Center Stage as Inter Miami's MVP in Club World Cup Opener

In a standout performance, goalkeeper Oscar Ustari emerged as the MVP for Inter Miami during their Club World Cup opener against Egypt's Al Ahly on Saturday night.

Ustari showcased his skills with eight crucial saves, including a penalty stop and a remarkable goal-line intervention, as the match ended in a scoreless draw. His save of a header in the 33rd minute was pivotal, but it was his penalty save against Trezeguet just before halftime that truly highlighted his impact, preventing Al Ahly from taking the lead.

This match marked Ustari's return to a World Cup stage for the first time since he celebrated victory at the U-20 World Cup in 2005 alongside Lionel Messi, who now captains Inter Miami.

Prior to joining Inter Miami, Ustari captained Pachuca, which also participated in the tournament. His tenure was marred by controversy due to Grupo Pachuca's ownership of Club León, which faced disqualification from FIFA and had its appeal denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

With 124 appearances for Pachuca and a brief stint at Audax Italiano in Chile, Ustari signed with Inter Miami as a free agent in September 2024. Since then, he has played 22 matches, including eight in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

"I don't like to talk about myself. The team did a great job defensively and that is what I most care about," Ustari stated after the match.

Reflecting on his return to competitive play, he added, "I remember being retired and knew that my return would come on a field, so I'm very happy about it (being back)."

Ustari expressed confidence in his team's performance: "I thought we were superior, that's what I think. The game left me with good feelings, but our next rival is very different."

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez acknowledged Ustari's crucial role, saying, "We didn't think their keeper would make so many saves; he was the key player in the game along with Oscar in the first half. That shows that goalkeepers can earn you points as well."