LIONEL MESSI appeared to headbutt an Al-Ahly star as tempers flared during the Club World Cup opener. Inter Miami were held to a goalless draw by the Egyptian side in the early hours of Sunday morning. The revamped 32-team tournament held in the US got off to a fiery start and Messi was at the centre of the controversy. Inter Miami had a corner in the second-half and the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner waited in the box. But before the ball came in, Messi lost his cool after something was seemingly said by Al-Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim. The pair then walked towards each other and squared up. Messi appeared to deliberately knock his head into Ibrahim as they stood face-to-face before they were separated by team-mates. Both players went unpunished and VAR did not review the incident. Fans were left shocked, with one saying: "Messi is shameless." Another commented: "That dude already has something to tell his grand-kids: 'Messi headbutted me'." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS But others disagreed, writing: "He puts his head forward into Messi - Messi was just acting in self defence after he was headbutted first." It came during an ill-tempered match that saw five bookings, including ones for both Messi's old Barcelona pals Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez. Group A is finely poised after Palmeiras and Porto also played out a 0-0 draw last night. Inter Miami face the Portuguese side next on Thursday night.