Soccer legend Lionel Messi met Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes before the game, then shined on the same field Mahomes does every home game in the NFL.
Messi scored a goal early in the second half and assisted another in the first half en route to a thrilling 3-2 victory for Inter Miami over Sporting KC on Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Instead of Mahomes, Messi was the biggest star in Kansas City, delivering in front of a reported crowd of 72,610 – the most-attended soccer match in state of Missouri and the third-most attended MLS game in history.
“This was incredible, great environment, fans were tremendous,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes told reporters after the game despite the loss.
Messi got his first start in an MLS game since March 2 and played the distance in his third game back from a right hamstring injury with Mahomes, a Sporting KC co-owner, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid in attendance.
Messi’s goal six minutes into the second half was dynamic. He found himself in a rare opportunity of open space without any defenders around him, squaring up with his legendary left boot to soar a kick over the outreached hands of Sporting KC goalie Tim Melia to give Inter Miami a 2-1 lead.
Messi’s assist in the first half was just as special: He saw teammate Diego Gomez making his move in the open field and delivered a pass behind the defense – just like Mahomes finds star tight end Travis Kelce behind linebackers in coverage on the same field.
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