Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami), the 'soccer emperor', has taken over the United States.
Inter Miami, which Messi belongs to, will face the San Jose Earthquakes on the 15th at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, as part of the MLS regular season. Inter Miami is currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 6 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses.
According to Fox Sports, the San Jose area is in a frenzy as soccer fans are camping out in front of the hotel where Inter Miami is staying and at the training ground to get Messi's autograph.
MLS reporter Fabien Renkel noted, 'I know that LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, and Stephen Curry are global superstars. But Messi is on a completely different level. Messi is a social phenomenon. Thanks to Messi, the soccer market is growing in the United States.'
In the United States, mega sports events such as the Super Bowl, NCAA March Madness, and NBA Finals are held. The Club World Cup will also take place in June. Additionally, there is the 2026 North American World Cup. Nevertheless, the reality is that the excitement for soccer has not yet reached the level of other sports.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan expressed joy, saying, 'With Messi coming, the San Jose match has become a world-class event. San Jose is ready to welcome soccer fans.'
[OSEN]