Sporting KC preps to host Messi at Arrowhead

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - One of the greatest athletes on the planet is gearing up to take center stage at Arrowhead — and it’s not Patrick Mahomes.

Sporting KC will welcome Argentinian star Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF to town Saturday night.

“There is no team in the world, there’s no coach in the world that has ever put a game plan in to stop him,” Sporting manager Peter Vermes said. “No one ever has. I’m not gonna be the first guy to figure that out.”

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion scored in his return to play Sunday against the Colorado Rapids; he’d been sidelined with a hamstring injury since March 13.

“If something doesn’t happen to him tomorrow night (against Monterrey), then I would fully expect him to play,” Vermes said. “He’s a genius on the field. His soccer IQ is much higher than anyone else’s out there. So, you just have to hope he doesn’t have a good day.”

Sporting announced in January the highly anticipated match would be moved from Children’s Mercy Park to Arrowhead Stadium in anticipation of excess ticket demand.

The home of the Chiefs has been bathed in blue over the last several days, including the addition of a new Daniel Salloi banner.

“I’m excited to see this community, Kansas and Missouri, to be in the Chiefs’ stadium, see what type of energy they bring, and just to have the opportunity to go play at a massive stadium in front of our home fans,” goalkeeper Tim Melia said.

“To me, there’s no player that’s ever been around like Messi,” Vermes said. “He’s the best player ever to play the game. Whether you’re a soccer fan or not, to just go and watch somebody who is the best at that sport ever – what an unbelievable opportunity that is.”