Fortune smiled on Justin Weitzman.
In search of an early present for his son Liam’s 14th birthday, the Timonium resident discovered tickets to the MLS game pitting Inter Miami and DC United at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon. And as luck would have it, Liam’s favorite soccer player is Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi.
“I was so hyped,” Liam said of his reaction when his father surprised him. “I was like, ‘What time are we leaving? Where are we going?’”
Added Justin Weitzman: “We lucked out.”
The Weitzman pair were just two of an announced sold-out crowd of 72,026 — including Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott — who filled the stands for Saturday’s game and watched Inter Miami hold on for a 2-1 victory over D.C. United. And their primary reason for attending boiled down to a single name: Messi.
The 38-year-old Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in soccer history after being named the world’s best player by FIFA eight times, winning 46 team trophies to become the most decorated player in professional football, and contributing to more than 1,300 goals (via goals and assists) for the highest total in the sport’s history.
Messi’s presence drew Julio Gonzalez of Lansdowne and two friends to the game.
“He is an amazing player,” said Gonzalez, who is Guatemalan. “And he is humble. He is the best in history.”
Messi’s popularity was evident from the outset. More than an hour before the gates to the stadium opened at 3 p.m. — 90 minutes before the game’s start — thousands of fans lined up early.
And the number of fans wearing pink Messi or blue-and-white Argentina jerseys dwarfed those donning D.C. United apparel. The Weitzmans wore the pink Messi jerseys, while Gonzalez and his friends mixed the Argentina and blue-and-red jerseys of FC Barcelona, Messi’s European club.
When D.C. United took the field for pregame warmups, hardly anyone could be enticed to move. But when Inter Miami ran out from the locker room, fans erupted in cheers and applause. That reaction only got louder when Messi was shown on the giant video screens behind both nets.
Santiago Correa of Woodbridge, Virginia, who said that he is half Argentinian, said that Messi’s appeal transcends many lines and grew in stature after he led Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022 and Copa America championships in 2021 and 2024.
“It means the world to see him play,” he said. “Soccer is the biggest thing in Argentina. They treat Messi like a god.”
Justin Weitzman said he appreciates Messi’s humility.
“As great as he is, he’s also very humble,” he said. “He’s a family man.”
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, right, looks to teammate Mateo Silvetti to celebrate after scoring against D.C. United in the first half Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Messi’s presence even drew supporters who weren’t necessarily there for the global superstar.
“Not that much,” Correa’s friend, Ronald Rocha of Woodbridge, Virginia, said of his fandom of Messi. “I’m a [Real] Madrid fan. But I respect him. He’s a good player, but all day [Cristiano] Ronaldo.”
The Loarte family of parents Luis and Silvia and sons Brandon and Ethan made the drive from Virginia. While Luis and the boys wore their DC United jerseys and scarves, Silvia unzipped her coat to reveal a pink Messi jersey.
“It’s an honor to see Messi play,” said Luis Loarte, who took Brandon to watch Messi and FC Barcelona edge Manchester United, 1-0, in the International Champions Cup in Landover in 2017 and Messi and Argentina nip Chile, 1-0, in a Copa America group match in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 2024.
Asked what would be the best outcome, Silvia Loarte said that she was hoping for a 4-0 rout. “I’m from Miami,” she said proudly.
D.C. United fans were few and far between. Ben and Tyler Marcheski drove 80 minutes from Chantilly, Virginia, wishing for a D.C. United victory.
“It’s a little intimidating to play against a team with Messi,” Tyler Marcheski said. “But I’m excited to see Messi. Win or lose, it’s still Messi.”
Ben Marcheski said that he was keeping his expectations low against an Inter Miami team that also included defensive midfielder Rodrigo De Paul and striker Greman Berterame.
Fans show their support for soccer star Lionel Messi during Saturday’s MLS game between Inter Miami and D.C. United at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the greatest players alive and see the home team play against a dream team,” he said. “I don’t expect them to win. They’re like a super team.”
D.C. United fans might have been angered that the game in Baltimore sapped their team of the homefield advantage they would have enjoyed if the game was held at its usual home of Audi Field in Washington. But Messi’s six appearances last year at larger-venue stadiums drew an average of 47,583 fans — more than double the MLS average of 21,754.
There was some pregame consternation that Messi might not play as he has at times not suited up against inferior opponents. But he started Saturday and attracted the loudest cheers whenever he touched the ball.
Ten minutes after De Paul flicked home a clean cross-box pass from left midfielder Telasco Segovia in the 17th minute, Messi provided the fans what they wanted. Right midfielder Mateo Silvetti led Messi with a pass into the left side of the box, and he lofted the ball over the left shoulder of D.C. United goalkeeper Sean Johnson and into the back right post. In the 38th minute, Messi navigated right to left outside the box, and his left-footed boot just sailed wide of the right post.
SI CAPITÁN! 🫡⚽️ Golazo de Leo Messi para duplicar el marcador 🔥 pic.twitter.com/e5w7NBUS2b
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) March 7, 2026
In the 75th minute, D.C. United halved the deficit when forward Tai Baribo buried the ball after midfielder Jackson Hopkins’ initial shot was blocked away by Inter Miami goalie Dayne St. Clair, a Maryland graduate. But Inter Miami kept D.C. United at arm’s length the rest of the way.
Similarly, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said the team tries to avoid putting too much on Messi’s plate.
“First of all, we don’t usually put too much pressure on him,” he said in Spanish. “Maybe because we have already naturalized everything that Leo generates. So sometimes when you naturalize things, they seem normal to you.”
The pro-Inter Miami crowd in Baltimore surprised St. Clair, who said that some Terps coaches and players attended the game.
“It’s definitely nice to be able to kind of go to away stadiums and know that you probably have more supporters than the actual home team, which is nice,” he said. “Obviously, that won’t be the case in every single stadium, but I think it was definitely the case tonight.”
Messi did not play in front of D.C. United fans when Inter Miami visited Audi Field in 2024 and 2025. So Saturday was a treat for Correa.
“I would have been disappointed a little bit,” he said about Messi sitting out. “I’m just glad I came to see him play.”
Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.
Inter Miami star player Lionel Messi plays against DC United in the second half. Inter Miami beats DC United 2-1 in soccer match at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi, center, is double teamed by D.C. United’s Matti Peltola, left, and Silvan Hefti, right, in the second half. Inter Miami beats DC United 2-1 in soccer match at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
The scoreboard at M&T Bank Stadium introduce Inter Miami Star player Lionel Messi before game against DC United. Inter Miami beats DC United 2-1 in soccer match. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
The scoreboard at M&T Bank Stadium announces the sold out crowd for the DC United Inter Miami game featuring star player Lionel Messi. Inter Miami beats DC United 2-1 in soccer match. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, left, drives up field against D.C. United’s Joao Martins Peglow, right, in the second half. Inter Miami CF beats DC United 2-1 in soccer match at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi plays against DC United in the second half. Inter Miami beats DC United 2-1 in soccer match at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
D.C. United’s Keisuke Kurokawa, top, collides with Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi in the second half. Inter Miami beats Dc United 2-1 in soccer match at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Fans show their support for soccer star Lionel Messi during Saturday’s MLS game between Inter Miami and D.C. United at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi waves to fans during warmups before Saturday’s Major League Soccer game against D.C. United at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
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Inter Miami star player Lionel Messi plays against DC United in the second half. Inter Miami beats DC United 2-1 in soccer match at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)