Argentina legend Lionel Messi will have a stand named after him at his current club Inter Miami’s new stadium, a rare tribute for an active player.
The 38-year-old, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest ever, joined the MLS side in 2023 after a trophy-filled European career with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Since his arrival, Messi has become Inter Miami’s record goalscorer with 82 goals and leading provider of assists with 53.
The club described the gesture as unique: “Traditionally, tributes look to the past.
They are built from nostalgia, from memory.
This one is different – it is born from the present, from what you feel every time Leo steps onto the pitch.
Recognising someone is not always about closing a chapter.
Sometimes it is about realising you are witnessing something unique.”
Inter Miami will play their first match at the new 26,700-capacity Nu Stadium against Austin FC on Saturday, April 4.
This is the second time a stand has been named after Messi.
His childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, honoured him similarly in June 2025.
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, also made MLS history last season as the first player to win back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards.
His arrival at the club, co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, has boosted both the profile of the league and Inter Miami’s status, bringing silverware including the Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.
