Messi, still the MLS box office king
Inter Miami and Lionel Messi visited Baltimore this Saturday, specifically M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL, where the MLS champions faced DC United. Anticipating the visit of the reigning champions and a player widely regarded as the greatest in history, DC United decided to move the match to a much larger venue.
This story has been repeated on multiple occasions since Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami and MLS, where the popularity of the Argentine star has been evident every time he and his team visit one of the league’s other 29 franchises.
Prior to the game, DC United announced that M&T Bank Stadium was close to selling out for Messi’s visit, with around 71,000 spectators expected to witness the world champion and his Inter Miami side.
In this way, MLS once again finds Lionel Messi to be its main box office draw, prompting clubs to seek larger venues in order to attract bigger crowds and provide a more complete experience for both their own fans and the supporters of the Argentine star.
Since his arrival in MLS with Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has played away matches against major opponents in several important venues across the United States, including Soldier Field and, more recently, the LA Memorial Coliseum, where he began his journey in the current season.
Which of Messi’s MLS matches have had the highest attendance?
Lionel Messi’s first full season with Inter Miami came in 2024. After the MLS schedule was announced that year, both Sporting Kansas City and New England Revolution opted to move their matches against Inter Miami to NFL venues, Arrowhead Stadium and Gillette Stadium respectively.
These games produced historic records for both Sporting Kansas City and the New England Revolution, as Messi’s visit helped them reach unprecedented attendance figures of 72,610 and 65,612 fans respectively.
Other MLS clubs saw the opportunity, and last season in 2025 the pattern continued. Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew hosted Messi at Soldier Field and Huntington Bank Field, home of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. Both venues set attendance records for football matches in Chicago and Cleveland, drawing crowds of 62,358 and 60,614 spectators respectively.
2026 brings new scenarios to consider
Now, in the new season, after opening day saw LAFC host Inter Miami at the Memorial Coliseum and set a record for an opening match with 75,673 fans, Miami is making another historic appearance in Baltimore.
DC United is expected to welcome around 71,000 spectators for the match against Messi’s Inter Miami, which would mark a historic attendance record for the club.
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