Messi unexpectedly received a special honor.

(NLĐO) – The history of world football has never recorded a player who had the honor of having a home stadium stand named after him while still playing at the highest level, like Messi.

Messi has transformed the landscape of the American Major League Soccer (MLS) since joining Inter Miami in 2023.

To witness firsthand the magical footwork of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, fans flocked to the stadium to cheer him on whenever he appeared.

To best meet the demands of fans, Inter Miami decided to move from their old Chase Stadium to the new Nu Stadium, which has a capacity of up to 26,700 seats.

The East Stand at Inter Miami's Nu Arena has been named "Leo Messi" and will be unveiled when the team plays Austin FC on April 4th. Photo: AP

What's even more noteworthy is that the Inter Miami leadership decided to name the East Stand of the Nu Stadium after "Leo Messi".

The stands named after the Argentinian superstar include sections 117 to 121 on the lower level and 217 to 223 on the upper level.

The numbers aren't what makes this decision most noteworthy. What's special is that Inter Miami is bestowing this honor upon a player who is still actively playing, still central to the team, rather than a symbol of the past.

Messi is playing a leading role both professionally and in terms of image, and will continue his association with Inter Miami under a contract that runs until the end of the 2028 season.

Since joining the club co-owned by legend David Beckham, Messi has played 94 matches, scoring 82 goals and providing 53 assists.

Messi's impact is also evident in the team's collective achievements. In just the last three years, Inter Miami has won three major titles: the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters' Shield, and the 2025 MLS Cup.

In 2025 alone, the superstar born in 1987 won the top scorer and MVP titles, and was voted the best player of the tournament for the second consecutive time.

Messi is set to reach another milestone, scoring his 900th career goal in early March 2026. He will become only the second player in men's football history to achieve this milestone, after Cristiano Ronaldo.

Despite Inter Miami's recent exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16, Messi's position within the team remains unaffected.

The stand named "Leo Messi" is expected to officially debut at the opening match of the Nu Stadium when Inter Miami hosts Austin FC on April 4th.

Nu Stadium is located in the heart of the city, right next to Miami International Airport.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/messi-bat-ngo-duoc-vinh-danh-dac-biet-196260328082919913.htm