Fans have arrived almost a month early to see the Argentine legend play for his new club Inter Miami, with the current star still officially a PSG player.
One unlucky soccer fan traveled some ‘1200 miles’ to catch a glimpse of superstar Lionel Messi in action, only to find out he was yet to arrive at Inter Miami.
With ‘Messi Mania’ now flooding the US and beyond, it’s no surprisҽ that fans will go to great lengths to see him out on the field for the new MLS bosses. One spectator appeared to have been a bit reckless, flying to Philadelphia from Florida in hopes of witnessing his team’s latest acquisition.
Arriving to watch the Herons play against the Philadephia Union at Subaru Park, this unlucky fan soon realized that Messi would not be present. Arriving with a customized plaque expecting to see the former Barcelona hero in action, disappointment was evident on his face.
Captured on camera, the fan noticed himself on the big screen, before taking down the banner he had made for the Argentinian striker – which read, “I traveled 1200 miles to watch GOAT football [ Greatest of All Time]” – as he tries to hide his woҽs.
Unsurprisingly, the clip has sparked curiosity and interest on social media, with numerous Twitter users commenting on the video originally posted by the Philadelphia Union. One user was confused by the fan’s fake actions, saying: “So before traveling and buying tickets he didn’t even check if [Lionel] Messi is available? Because okay? knowing he won’t be playing so soon, he’s still on vacation.”
One user commented that he felt sorry for the youngster, while also expressing his embarrassment at the lack of fan research, saying: “I wish I could feel bad for him. but even the tiniest bit of research would tell him [Lionel ] Messi didn’t play this game.”
Inter Miami has yet to officially announce their new signing, with minor details still unresolved before the expected switch, and so another user added: “I mҽan, the club haven’t even officially announced him yet.”
Of course, the youngster isn’t the only one caught up in the fanfare surrounding the upcoming World Cup winner’s arrival in the US. Shockingly, tickets for all away matches sold out within hours of the deal’s announcement and seats were listed for up to $20,000 (£16,000) when resell.
Expect a rock-star reception for the legendary striker across the United States, venues at stadiums like Atlanta United’s Mercedes Stadium have also been expanded to full capacity. On top of that, Inter Miami is also looking to beef up its own security, as the need to see the superstar shows no sign of abating.
However, the Argentinian will not officially sign for Inter Miami until early next month and will technically remain a Paris Saint-Germain player until his contract expires at the end of June. Furthermore, it is thought the iconic winger will not play for his new club until July 21 against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.