Lionel Messi, Inter Miami Draw Third-Largest MLS Regular Season Crowd to Arrowhead Stadium

Patrick Andres | Apr 14, 2024

Apr 13, 2024; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after a play. / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City, long one of America's greatest soccer towns, proved its bonafides again Saturday.

Saturday's matchup between Inter Miami and Sporting KC at Arrowhead Stadium drew an astounding 72,610 fans—the third-largest crowd for a regular-season game in MLS's three-decade history. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a Sporting KC owner, was in attendance.

Inter Miami topped Sporting KC, 3–2, thanks to a pair of second-half goals from its star attractions.

Forward Lionel Messi scored in the 51st minute to give his team its first lead. When Sporting KC midfielder Erik Thommy equalized in the 58th, striker Luis Suárez put Inter Miami back in front with a goal 13 minutes later.

The win enabled Inter Miami to remain first in the Eastern Conference.

72,610 fans turned out to watch Messi and Inter Miami take Sporting KC at Arrowhead Stadium tonight.

That’s the third-highest attendance for a single match in MLS history.

pic.twitter.com/4siugYYVts

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 14, 2024

The two largest regular-season crowds in MLS history have also convened in recent years: 82,110 saw the Los Angeles Galaxy beat Los Angeles FC, 2–1, at the Rose Bowl in 2023, and 74,479 watched the Galaxy beat Charlotte FC ,1–0, at Bank of America Stadium in 2022.

Arrowhead Stadium has not had a regular soccer tenant since 2007, after which the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting KC) left for CommunityAmerica Ballpark and later Children's Mercy Park.