It’s highly unlikely any player other than Lionel Messi could have brought Prince Harry, Selena Gomez and Leonardo DiCaprio out to a regular-season Major League Soccer match.
But there they were — very noticeable in fact — in the crowd when Messi’s Inter Miami squad took on LAFC in Southern California early this month.
Since Messi arrived in the United States, the league and his team have both been enjoying a rare spotlight, with sell-outs on the road and at home, No. 10 jerseys flying off the shelves, ticket prices at times reaching unheard-of levels and sponsors jumping on board.
“He’s the best player in the world. What did you think he was going to do when he came here?” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said after Inter Miami’s star-studded sold-out match in Los Angeles.
It’s almost necessary to be an A-lister to score a good ticket to watch him play: Front-row tickets on the secondary market have been going for thousands of dollars. Regardless of the costs they may incur, more fans are going through the turnstiles to watch the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and reigning World Cup champion.
“I was never an MLS person,” said Kenny Schorr, a fan from Miami Springs and former college soccer player who was at a recent Inter Miami game. “I would watch a game and get frustrated. The talent level was so different. I’m not trying to put anybody down, But you look at what Messi does and the talent is only going to increase with his presence.”
Messi Mania has even reached beyond the pitch.
The day after Messi posted on social media about his meal from Banchero Pizza, a homey Argentine-style pizzeria in Miami’s North Beach, there was a line out the door at the restaurant.
Clearly, the demand for all things Messi is off the charts, but will that translate to greater success for MLS in the United States, where “football” means the NFL not soccer?
“With the arrival of Messi, everything is changing, everything is opening eyes,” LAFC defender Giorgio Chiellini said. “It’s a step. Part of that has to be a step, then many will want to invest and they could have the opportunity to do it. This league has huge potential. Now it’s time to show this potential.”