Worlds collided when Mahomes met Messi in Kansas City on Saturday night.
The football GOAT and current NFL GOAT met at Arrowhead Stadium – home of Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs – ahead of Inter Miami’s 3-2 MLS win against Sporting Kansas City.
4Messi put on a show in front of MahomesCredit: Getty
Three-time Super Bowl winner Mahomes greeted the World Cup-winning star in the players tunnel before kick-off and the iconic duo shared a warm embrace.
The Chiefs quarterback offered some words of encouragement to the former Barcelona legend, saying: “Good luck man. Have fun out there.”
Mahomes’ message of fun is a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the all-time great NFL players.
His playful attitude and approach to high-pressure situations has ultimately enabled him to excel at the highest level and make huge plays on the grandest of occasions.
In overtime against the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman to seal a 25-22 win.
Like Mahomes, Messi is also a man for the big occasion, including the 2022 World Cup where he scored two goals in the final before his Argentina team beat France in a penalty shoot-out.
Leo gave the KC signal caller a glimpse of his greatness on Saturday with a stunning goal and equally incredibly assist in the Herons’ 3-2 victory at Arrowhead.
Sporting KC normally plays their matches at Children’s Mercy park, but moved to the 76,000-seater Arrowhead Stadium to accommodate the increased demand for Messi.
4The two GOATs met prior to Inter Miami’s 3-2 winCredit: X@InterMiamiCF
4Pat told Leo to have fun out thereCredit: X@InterMiamiCF
4Patrick and Brittany are investors in women’s soccer team, the Kansas City CurrentCredit: Getty
The home team scored after six minutes but Messi set up Diego Gomez with a perfectly timed threaded through ball to make it 1-1.
The Argentinian then produced a rocket from outside the box to put Inter Miami in front shortly after half-time.
Kim Kardashian says her son, Saint West is ‘living the dream’ after being pictured walking out with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami match
Sporting KC fought back to make it 2-2 but Luis Suarez secured all three points for Tata Martino’s side with the winning goal, 19 minutes from time.
Messi has five goals and five assists in five games this season and Miami returned to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
It was a welcome result for the Herons, who were eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup last week after losing to Monterey 5-2 on aggregate.
Despite his local team losing, Mahomes will have no doubt appreciated watching Messi’s greatness in the flesh.
Mahomes and his wife Brittany have a vested interest in the local soccer scene and are part of the ownership group for National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side, Kansas City Current.
The Current play at the historic new 11,500-seater CPKC Stadium, the first stadium built specifically for a women’s professional sports team in the world.
The soccer-specific, riverfront stadium is located in Kansas City, Missouri and opened for the Current’s first home match of the new NWSL season on March 16.
Soccer is close to Brittany’s heart after a brief career as a player.
It started at the University of Texas at Tyler, where she scored 31 career goals, the second-most in program history, before heading to Icelandic club UMF Afturelding.
She ultimately gave up on her career and now makes a living as a personal trainer and businesswoman.
