Lionel Messi’s tribute to be unveiled at Inter Miami’s stadium
Inter Miami will pay tribute to Lionel Messi by designating a portion of the club’s new Nu Stadium in his name, revealing a section called the Leo Messi Stand.
“Inter Miami CF is thrilled to introduce the Leo Messi Stand, with our captain and number 10 set to become part of a rare and exceptional occurrence in global sports: an athlete actively competing at his home venue with a stand dedicated to him,” the club stated in a release.
“Typically, tributes reflect on the past. They are constructed from nostalgia. From memory. This tribute is distinct. It is rooted in the present. In what is unfolding right now. In the emotions felt each time Leo steps onto the field.
“Honoring someone does not always signify closing a chapter. Sometimes it is about acknowledging that you are witnessing something extraordinary.”
The Leo Messi Stand will encompass sections 117-121 in the lower bowl of the stadium and 217-223 in the upper bowl.
Since his arrival at the club in the summer of 2023, Messi has guided Inter Miami to the first-ever Leagues Cup trophy, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, and the 2025 MLS Cup, while also aiding the club in establishing the MLS record for the highest points total in a single season.
On an individual level, the Inter Miami captain made league history by securing the MVP award in both 2024 and 2025, becoming the first player to achieve this honor in consecutive years.
– Sources: Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, Al Ittihad eye Casemiro
– MLS Power Rankings: Nashville displaces LAFC, Caps to go No. 1
– Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments in 2026
Messi also holds the title of the club’s all-time leader in both goals and assists, tallying 82 goals and 53 assists in 94 appearances across all competitions.
Inter Miami will officially open the stadium on April 4 against Austin FC in a Major League Soccer regular-season match. Supporters seated in the Leo Messi Stand during the inaugural match will experience “surprise and delight moments as part of the experience in this special and historic section,” as stated by the club.
