The Lionel Messi show lived up to the hype when the Inter Miami superstar visited Frisco to play FC Dallas in the inaugural Leagues Cup tournament earlier this month.
Looks like the experience left an impression on the greatest soccer player of this generation as well.
The match was a doozy. Messi scored twice in Miami’s penalty shootout win, which included his dazzling free kick in the 85th minute to tie things up at 4-4 before Miami’s 5-3 win on penalties. FC Dallas put up a fight. It was a sold-out crowd of 19,906 at Frisco’s Toyota Stadium. Messi left his mark and the feeling was apparently mutual.
Messi had his first interview since joining the MLS in July with ESPN’s Luis Miguel Echegaray on Thursday. Messi said the environment for his family was critical to his decision in joining the MLS. The travel from city to city, and the welcome parade from fans in each location, have been impactful.
Dallas received a shoutout.
“I can say I’m very happy, not just because of the results on the pitch but because of my family, how we go about our everyday life. We are enjoying the city and the welcome from fans, which has been extraordinary since the first day,” Messi told ESPN. “Not just in Miami but the U.S. in general. We got to go to Dallas as a visiting team, and the treatment toward me was spectacular. So, I’m grateful for this moment.”
Could the FC Dallas vs. Inter Miami match become the new norm in the MLS down the road? Frisco may not be able to host an opponent who transcends the sport every season. Not every reigning World Cup champion will move to the United States right afterward.
But wherever Messi goes, loyalists follow. His playing in the MLS can help the league draw eyes it never could before.
“For us, soccer is a religion, it’s something that goes beyond sports,” said Norberto Wilson, 63, an Argentine who came to Dallas 23 years ago and works as an electrician. “All our feelings are directed toward soccer.”
Messi chimed in on the topic with ESPN. He said the MLS has “every opportunity” to reach the level of competition overseas, where soccer is truly dominant.
“It’s time for the league to make that leap and finish growing, finish looking for what it’s been seeking for a while,” Messi said. “Everything is in place here to witness top-level football because of the country, the structure, a bunch of things.”
The 36-year-old Messi has scored nine goals with three assists as Inter Miami is 6-0-0 since the global icon’s arrival. So maybe the level of competition isn’t there yet. But perhaps the moment is?
Messi was certainly impressed by his reception in Dallas.
Find more FC Dallas coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
