Unstoppable Force: Lionel Messi Dominates MLS Even When He's Not Playing!

Lionel Messi's Friday night dinner was unveiled in a tantalizing manner, as the lid of a pizza box was lifted to reveal a freshly baked pie. However, this moment left some of his devoted fans with no desire to eat.

The reason behind their loss of appetite was not due to his choice of toppings from the Argentine Banchero restaurant in Miami – consisting of eight green olives, onion rings, and tomato slices without cheese – but rather the timing of his social media post.

Rishi Trivedi, a football fan, came across Lionel Messi's Instagram story of him enjoying a pizza in Miami. This left Trivedi confused, questioning whether Messi had not actually traveled to Atlanta. The next morning, Trivedi's concerns were confirmed as he discovered that Messi would not be playing. Struggling to sleep and feeling disappointed, Trivedi emphasized his continued support for Messi despite his absence.

Jenil Patel expressed his disappointment along with his friends regarding their heartbreak. He also criticized Messi's choice in food, stating, "If you're going to have pizza, at least opt for a better quality!" The impact of Messi's absence was not limited to the fans; even the opponents of Inter Miami found out about it through social media. Gonzalo Pineda, the coach of Atlanta United, informed reporters that he checked their Twitter account [now X] to confirm Messi's participation and noticed a pizza with tomatoes.

Lionel Messi trains during an Inter Miami CF Training Session at Florida Blue Training Center on Friday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Friday.

Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Ticket frenzy

After Messi's confirmation of his move to the United States in July, MLS fans nationwide eagerly started searching the schedule for chances to witness his play. Amongst them, the away game against Atlanta United emerged as a promising option.

Impressively, the Mercedes Benz Stadium accommodates over 70,000 spectators, prompting United to make all seats available for purchase. With a minimum price of $125, it didn't take long for certain tickets to be resold on secondary markets at significantly higher prices than their face value.

Messi's electrifying impact heightened the anticipation even more. In his initial 11 matches with Miami, the 36-year-old phenom netted 11 goals and played a key role in securing his team's triumph in the Leagues Cup, marking their inaugural championship win.

He showcased his talents in every possible match, except for a home victory against Sporting Kansas City, when he was fulfilling his international duties with Argentina. Even the legendary Messi is unable to be in two locations simultaneously.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi in action during a match against the Los Angeles FC.

Ringo Chiu/AP

Will Lionel Messi play on Atlanta Uniteds artificial turf?

Concerns about injury or the artificial pitch are the only factors that could potentially prevent him from playing in Atlanta. Nevertheless, during Messi's initial media conference in August, the 36-year-old explicitly expressed his approval of the turf. Consequently, anticipation grew even stronger regarding his arrival in Atlanta.

Fans started entering the gates at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. While some had already come to terms with the fact that he wouldn't be coming, there were a few who still didn't believe it, and there were others who were devastated. Angel Galdamez mentioned that he had spent nearly $2,000 on three tickets, three weeks prior to the game.

Galdamez expressed his frustration to CNN, stating, "I'm unhappy because I am putting in a lot of effort to earn my money." His companion, Irma Lopez, shared her disappointment, saying that they had only attended the event to see Messi. She expressed her desire to leave immediately, stating, "I want to go home now because our sole purpose was to witness his performance."

What added insult to injury for these fans was that the price of their tickets had significantly dropped, reaching a meager $40.

On August 2, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Messi makes his way into the stadium before the Round of 32 match between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF in the Leagues Cup 2023.

Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Hes like a God

It's always newsworthy when the prominent celebrities step onto the field, but it also creates a significant buzz when they are absent. Despite being more than 600 miles away, Messi still managed to captivate everyone's attention.

According to his club's statement to CNN, Messi was given a rest due to the extensive amount of playing time he had accumulated since his arrival in Miami. The club emphasized that the use of an artificial pitch was not a contributing factor. Nevertheless, some fans questioned why he couldn't have made the journey, suggesting that even a fleeting glimpse of him would have brought them immense joy.

Rohan Jhanjee expressed his regret that he couldn't see Messi in person, even if he had been on the bench, as it would have been worth the money due to Messi's immense popularity and influence in the game since his arrival in North America.

The MLS had experienced significant growth and is set to co-host the World Cup in three years. However, Messi's arrival has elevated the MLS brand to a whole new level. The renowned striker recently guided Argentina to victory in the World Cup, leading to overwhelming demand for tickets in Miami, attracting celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Prince Harry, and Selena Gomez.

Atlanta season ticket holders were so influenced by Messi's impact that they temporarily switched their allegiance, donning pink Inter Miami shirts with Messi's name on the back. Lacey Hunt expressed gratitude for Messi's presence in the US, stating that when Messi and Miami are not in Atlanta, they are loyal fans of Atlanta United.

Fans throughout the day questioned Messi's absence from the game and whether the club or league had a responsibility to inform them of his possible absence. The majority of those interviewed by CNN acknowledged that coaches prioritize the well-being of their players and the team, as soccer remains primarily a competitive sport within the entertainment realm.

Messi walks off the pitch after a match against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on August 26.

Brad Penner/USA Today Network/Reuters

Big red L

Since the third week of July, Messi has participated in 12 games. Miami, on the other hand, is preparing for a demanding schedule of six matches within a span of only 18 days. Among these games is the US Open Cup final against Houston, scheduled for the end of September, which presents another opportunity for Miami to win a trophy.

When Messi returns to play, he will have enjoyed a rest period of nearly two weeks. Miami will anxiously anticipate the outcome, hoping that the rest will prove to be beneficial.

They must also have hoped that his absence from a crucial league game would not have had a detrimental impact. Atlanta emerged victorious, winning the game 5-2, which marked Miami's first defeat since Messi joined the team, subsequently placing them second to last in the Eastern Conference.

For MLS, it could have been a missed chance to exhibit their product during a time when numerous American sports fans are predominantly engrossed in the alternative form of football. Messi would have played in front of a substantial crowd, reminiscent of the magnitude he witnessed during the World Cup final.

Atlanta United did not complain about the situation. Instead, their social media team responded with humor by sharing an image of a pizza on their social media feed. The pizza was prepared with the same toppings that Messi used, but the arrangement of the tomatoes formed a large red "L."

Take that!