CWC provides a stage for young guns to dazzle

Despite concerns over ticket sales and player fatigue, Fifa’s new expanded Club World Cup will throw up several intriguing storylines this summer in the United States.

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AFP Sport picks five things to look out for on the pitch as teams compete to conquer the world and claim their share of US$1 billion in prize money.

Messi back in the spotlight

Former Barcelona great Lionel Messi has spent the last two seasons at MLS side Inter Miami but the Club World Cup pits him against European opposition once again.

The 37-year-old superstar still possesses supreme quality but there are question marks over whether he and former top level stars Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets can seriously compete against the cream of the crop.

Inter Miami face Porto in their second group match in Atlanta, a team Messi has faced once before, beating them with Barca in the Uefa Super Cup back in 2011.

Messi also featured against Porto in a friendly with Barca back in 2003, which was his first ever appearance for the club at 16 years old.

If he nets at the tournament, Messi would become the oldest ever Club World Cup goalscorer, while both he and Suarez trail the competition’s all-time top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, by two goals.

A new stage for Doue