Patrick Mahomes is rarely the biggest star to grace GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Soccer great Lionel Messi will pass Mahomes on Saturday night.
Messi's Inter Miami will face Sporting Kansas City at the home of the three-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. More than 70,000 fans are expected to attend to catch a glimpse of Messi, the 2022 World Cup winner and considered the greatest in the sport.
“What he does is invisible, either not at all or not very often, but that's for sure,” longtime Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said before the game Thursday.
Added Sporting KC defender Andreu Fontas, who also played alongside Messi in La Liga. “He's definitely a better teammate than a rival. It'll be special to play against him again. We'll try our best not to let him play, because you almost need a chance for him to punish you. Because I know it's not there.”
But how long will Messi play in Kansas City?
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City live stream
The game begins at 7:30pm ET and will be broadcast through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
clock: Messi and Inter Miami vs. Sporting KC on Apple TV
ticket: Watch Messi and Inter Miami vs. Sporting KC in person
shop: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store
How long will Messi play against Sporting Kansas City?
Messi's movements may be restricted.
He will make his first start in almost a month and is scheduled to play a 90-minute performance in Mexico on Wednesday. Inter Miami lost to LIGA MX powerhouse Monterrey 1-3, 5-2 on aggregate, and was eliminated from the Concaf Champions Cup.
Messi appeared to be fully healthy after being sidelined with a right hamstring injury from March 13 until his return against Colorado last Saturday.
“It looks like he's still feeling the effects of his injury.” [him]That's the most important thing,'' Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said of Messi's health before the game against Monterrey.
Inter Miami have 10 games remaining before Copa America 2024, during which Messi is expected to captain Argentina for perhaps the last time in a major international tournament of his illustrious career.
Therefore, considering Messi's participation in the Copa America in June, there is a possibility that Messi's ability to stay healthy may be at his limit.
Possible matchup between Messi and Mahomes, Inter Miami and Sporting KC
Messi and Mahomes are two of the greatest players in the history of the sport and two of the best athletes to play in the United States. They could have a historic meeting on Saturday night.
A Chiefs spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports that if Patrick Mahomes is in town, he will be there.
Messi is the sport's best player and has won the Ballon d'Or eight times, and after a glittering career with Barcelona, he will lead Argentina to the Qatar World Cup in December 2022, captivating soccer fans around the world. .
Messi has also shown interest in the NFL since joining Inter Miami last summer.
Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl MVP and the Chiefs' star quarterback. He is without a doubt the best and most entertaining quarterback in the NFL, trailing Tom Brady with his seven Super Bowl rings.
Mahomes is one of Sporting KC's six main owners and had already posted about Messi's arrival on his expired Instagram Story earlier this week.
Mahomes also paid close attention to Messi's debut with Inter Miami, where Messi scored the winning goal in the final minute of the game.
Why is Messi's game so important for Kansas City?
The Kansas City Star says Messi's arrival will be one of the great sports moments in Kansas City history.
Sporting KC made the wise decision to host the game at Arrowhead Stadium, which holds more than 70,000 fans, compared to the club's 21,500-capacity Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. I made a decision.
According to the KC Star, this will be Sporting KC's first match at Arrowhead since they hosted English Premier League side Manchester United on July 25, 2010 in front of 52,342 fans. Become.
“I've watched him play from an early age. I don't know anyone on any team or any coach who has devised a game plan that would negate his incredibly unique qualities.” said Vermes about Messi. “You want him to have a bad day that day. You want him to miss if he has a chance. That's what you do.”
What is Inter Miami's upcoming schedule?
Inter Miami's next five games after the game against Kansas City are as follows:
April 20: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
April 27: Inter Miami at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 4: Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30pm ET
May 11: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 15: Inter Miami at Orlando City, 7:30pm ET
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