Messi, Lewandowski draw sellout crowd to Soldier Field for historic Chicago Fire-Inter Miami matchup
· Yahoo Sports
For many Chicago Fire fans, the match at Soldier Field was about more than soccer. For some, it was a moment of cultural pride. For others, it was a chance to see Lionel Messi, one of the sport's most celebrated figures, in person.
Fans streamed into a sold-out Soldier Field for a matchup between the Chicago Fire and Inter Miami, led by Messi.
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"Oh, the energy. It's going to go off the roof, just with Messi here," fan Jose Perez said.
Chicago Fire fan Ark Pachnik said he hoped his team would come away with a victory, even while recognizing Messi's stature in the sport.
"I'm rooting for Chicago, so hopefully they pull it off, but you've got Messi, greatest of all time. He is the GOAT," Pachnik said.
His son, Tim, had a simpler goal for the evening.
"I just want to see Lionel Messi in person, first time," he said.
While much of the attention centered on Messi, the Fire lineup also featured legendary striker Robert Lewandowski, Poland's all-time top scorer, who joined the club in late June.
Chicago Fire fan Joanna Fijolek said Lewandowski's presence made the match especially meaningful for members of Chicago's Polish community.
"Just waiting for this game for very long time. Especially with Lewandowski playing, it's something significant, especially for Polish community, and I'm Polish, too, like you can see," Fijolek said.
Jakub Potoniec echoed that sentiment.
"It's a pretty big deal for Polish people especially because one of the best Polish players, just means a lot," Potoniec said.
The contest also marked the first time Messi and Lewandowski shared an MLS field, adding to the significance of the event for fans of both players.
"History in the making. Both great players, Lewandowski and Messi facing each other," said Christopher Cisneros, a Messi supporter.
The match came a little more than a week after Messi announced his retirement from Argentina's national team, a development that added urgency for some fans hoping to see him play.
"It means really a lot to me. I've been wanting to see him for a very long time long, so I'm excited to see him," said John Field.
Kelsey Field said the timing made the opportunity feel even more important.
"The greatest of all time, and now that he's retiring from Argentina, I feel like this might be one of our last shots to see him," she said.
Messi last played at Soldier Field about a year and a half ago. He missed a game in Chicago in 2023 because of injury, and at age 39, some fans are wondering whether this could have been his final appearance in the city.