<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Ad Meter 2024: Michelob ULTRA"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">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.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">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.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">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.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“This was incredible, great environment, fans were tremendous,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/McKenzieMNelson/status/1779346229559730239" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> after the game despite the loss.</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">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.</p><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em_tw" data-g-r="lazy" data-gl-method="loadTwitter" aria-label="X Embed" data-v-id="1779304997928231020"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">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.</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">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.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Although...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2024/04/13/inter-miami-vs-sporting-kc-updates-messi-chiefs-stadium/73314766007/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
