It’s not every day that the greatest soccer player of all-time (arguably) is in Denver.
The Colorado Rapids are set to host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Saturday. It is expected to be Messi’s first-ever game in Colorado. Here’s everything you need to know.
Major League Soccer teams have been known to rest star players when visiting Denver’s mile-high elevation. For example, Inter Miami’s part-owner David Beckham infamously skipped a handful of games in Colorado throughout his playing career with the Los Angeles Galaxy due to fatigue or injury. While there’s no guarantee that Messi will play, there are a number of encouraging signs to indicate the chances are good he will take the pitch Saturday.
Messi has started and played the full 90 minutes in each of Miami’s last four matches. A video posted to Miami’s X account showed Messi fit and training on Wednesday. Inter Miami was eliminated from CONCACAF Champions Cup last month, which alleviated what could have been a busier schedule this month for the South Florida club.
Additionally, the game has been billed as Colorado’s 30th Anniversary match and Messi’s image appeared in promotions. The match is also being featured by broadcaster Apple TV as it is the only MLS game scheduled in its time slot.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster starting at $80. The Rapids last week on Instagram announced that 60,000 tickets had already been sold for the match.
It’s possible the 30th Anniversary match against Inter Miami could set a single-game attendance record for the Rapids. The club said its current record is 61,213 set on July 4, 2002 when the club played its home games at the Broncos’ stadium, prior to moving to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time.
The National Weather Service said the low temperature is expected to dip to about 22 degrees at Empower Field overnight, but will gradually warm up throughout the day. Weather service projections have the temperature at about 40 degrees at 10 a.m., 49 degrees by noon, 55 degrees by kickoff at 2:30 p.m., possibly climbing to 60 degrees under sunny skies by the final whistle.
Colorado has been resurgent under first-year coach Matt Wells this season. They currently sit sixth in the Western Conference standings and are playing an exciting brand of soccer. Their 19 goals scored in seven matches are tied for the most in MLS, but they have also conceded 12 goals this season which has made for some high-scoring, entertaining matches.
The Rapids are coming off a 6-2 win Saturday against Houston, which was tied for the most goals the club has ever scored in a league match. They also defeated USL League 1 team Union Omaha 1-0 on Tuesday in a U.S. Open Cup match.
Inter Miami are the defending MLS Cup Champions and currently sit third in the Eastern Conference standings. They have also played high-scoring, entertaining matches with 13 goals scored and 12 conceded.
However, Inter Miami’s coach Javier Mascherano departed the club this week and will be replaced by the club’s sporting director, Guillermo Hoyos.
Colorado is led by Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro, who last week was named MLS player of the week after a 2-goal, 1-assist performance against Houston. He has 5 goals and 3 assists this season and has led the club in goals in each of the last two seasons.
The Rapids also have American attacking midfielder Paxten Aaronson, who was acquired in August for a reported club-record fee of $7 million. Aaronson has 3 goals and 1 assist in seven league games this year.
Colorado also has 18-year-old center back Lucas Herrington who got his first call-up to the Australian National Team this last month and is in the running to represent the Socceroos at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Messi is arguably the greatest player of all-time. He has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy four times and led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup.
Messi is joined by countryman Rodrigo De Paul, a midfielder who also won the 2022 World Cup. De Paul joined Inter Miami from Atletico Madrid last summer.
Luis Suarez, who was teammates with Messi at FC Barcelona, is considered one of the best strikers of all-time with more than 600 goals and 300 assists in club and international play. He also starred at Liverpool and is the top goal scorer in Uruguayan history. However, at 39 years old, Suarez is nearing the end of his playing career.
Yes. Lane 8, a DJ who lives in Denver, is scheduled to perform at halftime.
Empower Field can be accessed by public transportation by taking the E or W line to Mile High Station. Bus routes 30, 31, 1 15L and the 16 also serve areas around the stadium.
Rideshare services can also have designated drop-off and pick-up areas near the stadium. Drop-off is at the NE corner of the stadium near Gate 5, and pickup is at 5th and Walnut Street at the Ball Arena Rideshare lot, about a 15-minute walk from Empower Field.
Bike racks are available around the stadium, but scooters are banned on the perimeter sidewalks.
Parking is available and must be purchased in advance on Ticketmaster. Permits were still available as of publication time, starting at $43. Parking lots open at 10:30 a.m.
Keep in mind, the Denver Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series at 1:30 p.m., so traffic in the area is expected to be heavy.
A Fan Fest is scheduled to begin on Mane Street at 10:30 a.m.
The Rapids supporters group Centennial 38 has also planned a tailgate in Lot C, starting at 11 a.m. Tickets are available for a $10 donation and must be purchased in advance for entry. There will be food, non-alcoholic beverages and music, however this is a BYOB event.
Gates open at 12:30 p.m., two hours prior to kick off.
Fans will be gathering at the Centennial 38 tailgate in Lot C at 1:15 p.m. for an organized March to the Match at 1:30 p.m., entering through Gate 10.
The match will adhere to the NFL’s clear bag policy. Click here for a full list of approved and prohibited items.
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