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Mascherano: Lionel Messi impacts the growth of MLS

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano credited Lionel Messi with contributing to the growth of Major League Soccer since his arrival in 2023.

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Messi contributes to the growth of MLS

Messi’s influence on the league was evident on Sunday as he led Inter Miami into Soldier Field.

He helped set a new all-time attendance record for the Fire with 62,358 fans at the iconic venue.

“In the summer, Messi will have been here for two years, and I think he’s changing how the world sees MLS in one way or another,” Mascherano said after a 0-0 draw with Chicago Fire.

“There’s no doubt about that. In the end, we’re talking about a player who’s capable of achieving all of that, of giving maximum visibility to a league like this.”

Although Inter Miami had previously faced the Fire at Soldier Field, Sunday marked Messi’s first appearance in a match at the venue.

“We saw it today, and it’s one of the many examples of everything he generates. The people came to see him, that’s the reality,” said Mascherano.

Helping grow the MLS audience

It’s not the first time Messi and Inter Miami have helped another club break its attendance record.

In 2024, both the New England Revolution and Sporting KC drew record-breaking crowds in matches featuring Messi.

To accommodate the soaring demand for tickets, other MLS clubs have also opted to move their fixtures against Inter Miami to larger venues.

For instance, the Columbus Crew relocated their upcoming match to Huntington Bank Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

“Now, MLS has the responsibility to continue advancing,” Mascherano said.

“It’s made progress, but it’s necessary to continue supporting the fact that I’m here to continue developing soccer in this country. He’s a unique, unrepeatable player. Everywhere he’s been, he’s marked a before and after.”

The 0-0 draw dropped Inter Miami to third place in the Eastern Conference, but the team remains just one point behind leaders Charlotte FC, with a game in hand.