‘Lionel Messi is the GOAT of his profession’ – Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes excited to potentially play in Super Bowl LIX in front of Inter Miami's Lionel Messi

With Super Bowl week currently underway in the United States, it has many fans excited for the weekend especially as Patrick Mahomes is set to take part in a historic Super Bowl LIX. The Kansas City Chiefs star is looking to win another championship while his side are looking to make history by securing a third consecutive win, a feat no other team has managed. That has already seen the excitement levels rise in New Orleans, where the game is being played, and they have risen even further with the news that Lionel Messi is looking to attend the Super Bowl.

USA Today Sports has revealed that the Inter Miami star is keen on watching the championship game in New Orleans even though it will be a tough journey for him. That has spurred on Mahomes as well as he admitted that he wants to show the World Cup winner what he can do on the field. The two athletes have met in the past, and Mahomes is a part owner of MLS side Sporting KC.

Mahomes said at the Super Bowl's media day, “Lionel Messi attending the Super Bowl on Sunday? He's the GOAT of his profession and having someone like that at the game, it would be awesome to showcase who I am and what talent I have. I got to watch him when he played in Kansas and he scored a couple of goals...you see the greatness that he plays with every single day and he's someone that I look up to and try to get on his level someday.”

Lionel Messi’s interest in the Super Bowl only continues to highlight the crossover aspect of sports and the fact that interactions between high-profile athletes are becoming more common and celebrated. That doesn’t just include Messi and Mahomes but goes well beyond that as well. Several MLS stars have been spotted watching NHL games during pre-season while Wilfried Zaha was given a hearty welcome to the city by Charlotte Hornets’ star Brandon Miller.

Inter Miami are currently on their pre-season tour across Latin America, having already played Club America, Club Universitario de Deportes and Sporting San Miguelito. However, their next game takes place in Honduras against Olimpia which is the final leg of their South and Central American part of their preseason.

Their preseason ends when Javier Mascherano’s side will return to the U.S. to face Orlando FC and Sporting Kansas City before their MLS season officially kicks off. The MLS side faces New York City FC in their first game of the 2025 MLS season.