The Morning After: Lionel Messi delivered on it all

Inter Miami takes out FC Dallas, but soccer wins big in North Texas

I honestly don’t know how true the following interaction was from decades and decades ago, but it has survived, so it must be. We believe that in the 1940s, baseball hero Joe DiMaggio said something that has always stuck with me since the day I first read it:

“The reporter asked, "why did you play so hard."

"Because there might have been somebody in the stands today who'd never seen my play before, and might never see me again". -Joe DiMaggio”

But, I always get a warm and fuzzy feeling when I know an athlete is wired that way. Someone like Lionel Messi can play his entire life and achieve everything there is to be done, yet still feels personally obligated on a hot night in Frisco to put on the best show he can.

It was everything that anyone could have dreamed it to be.

He was sensational for much of the match, scoring two breathtaking goals from a distance – one during the run of play and one from a free kick that never left any doubt. He electrified those who came to see him in a fashion that will be etched in DFW sports history.

I have worked with friends who still talk about the Beatles visit to Dallas in 1964 at the Memorial Auditorium and that night in 1991 when Nirvana was at Trees. I always am up for someone recounting stories with awe. They had one chance and one chance only to witness legends who came to town and left an indelible impression. Now, I feel like I can join the conversation. In 2023, probably for his only visit, Messi bestowed us with stories that will undoubtedly become legend. It was a momentous night, with a capacity crowd of 19,096 in attendance to witness it, but in a decade or so, a million will claim they were there.

Inter Miami, thanks to a few free kicks that were awarded due to fouls from a distance, managed to overcome a 4-2 deficit after the 80th minute and eliminate FC Dallas from the Leagues Cup in the Round of 16 on penalties. The home side will have regrets from this one as they often appeared to be the better squad on this night, but as the match progressed, they did not demonstrate the ability to hold off the late charge from the greatest player that the sport has ever known.

It was a night that still has me buzzing. Let’s delve into a comprehensive review of the highlights from a night in Frisco that will be awfully difficult to surpass:

• I didn't think that you could get to Toyota Stadium early enough on Sunday, so arriving just before 7 pm for an 8:30 kickoff seemed aggressive. However, it was better to be safe than sorry, especially since my son was depending on my timely delivery for this special occasion. He was informed on Friday that this event would happen and immediately began the countdown to see his generation's Babe Ruth with his own eyes. I couldn't afford to mess this up with a flat tire or poor planning. But, unfortunately, the logistics outside the stadium left most of us who bought tickets in incredibly long lines to enter. After parking, we found ourselves at the end of a line at 7:17 pm that wrapped around the East Gate to the south of the stadium, forming a giant circle of hundreds of people deep.

  

  Thankfully, that side enjoyed shade, but from what I could tell, they had similar lines in the sun all around the stadium. Regardless, Miami’s late arrival apparently led to the gates being closed until it became a major problem. Although we managed to get into our seats after the teams walked out but before the kickoff at 8:36 pm, I was sweating bullets of nervousness, not due to the heat. I assumed the hundreds of people behind me were unable to see the first kick and probably missed the first goal of the night. One lady had been standing behind me for over an hour, only to discover that she had to return her purse to her car, and she actually burst into tears as we entered and she circled back to the parking lot.

• I have been to that stadium for countless matches, "mas o menos." I have witnessed other legends make their Frisco debut, including David Beckham himself. I have been a devoted supporter of FC Dallas since their days as the Dallas Burn in the Cotton Bowl and still recall my early fandom obsession with Ariel Graziani. However, nothing compares to the electric atmosphere of last night. The ambiance was so captivating that you would have thought you were in one of the most amazing soccer settings that the Western Hemisphere has to offer. It was simply brilliant, and while the likelihood of Messi returning is low, the event showcased what is possible.
  

  Despite the final result, I am genuinely delighted for the hardworking individuals at FC Dallas who understand the struggle of making the club a regular part of the sports conversation in this competitive sports city. Certainly, a downtown Dallas stadium with mass transit would make a world of difference in elevating the day-to-day popularity of the club. Nevertheless, on this magical night, Frisco created an unforgettable setting for history to unfold.

• Like Messi and Graziani, FC Dallas starlet Alan Velasco hails from Argentina. If you were following the buildup to the match, you could only imagine what must be going through his head, knowing he would share a pitch with Messi. Velasco, just a few weeks past his 21st birthday, is incredibly talented, as he has shown on numerous occasions since his arrival last season. Last night, I couldn't take my eyes off him as he was living his dream.
  

  The opening kickoff was held up for a few minutes, allowing Velasco and Messi to share a conversation. Even though it was fully in Spanish, I would have loved to have the transcript of that exchange. Can you imagine being an Argentine who has grown up hearing the legend of Messi, only to play against him in Texas when you turn 21? Then, witnessing Velasco's many moments of brilliance last night, culminating in the jersey swap and a hug with his hero (although Maradona adorns his back tattoo), must be an experience that will live with him forever. The entire evening warmed the heart, knowing Velasco will never stop smiling about August 6, 2023.

• Messi's first goal unfolded right in front of us, and I must take this opportunity to thank my friend Tanner for selling me a pair of extra tickets he had. The seats in the South end by the Soccer Hall of Fame were an unexplored part of the stadium for me, but it turned out to be a fantastic place to watch the match.

  I barely hit record before Messi unleashed his sweet opener in his trademark curling fashion, expertly finding the net inside the post with impossible precision amidst a sea of bodies. He has executed that move countless times, and it was a moment of sheer brilliance.

• The Apple Plus component of this match is worth revisiting. I believe we all understand how sports leagues will generate revenue in the future. Exclusive access to content through subscriptions seems to be the path ahead, whether we like it or not. This trend is evident everywhere, but it's particularly bothersome in DFW, where so few can actually watch Luka Doncic or experience the wonderful 2023 Texas Rangers resurgence. Last night was one of those communal sports moments where casual fans were eager to find this occasion on their TV, only to realize it was not available. How many people might have watched their first FC Dallas match ever if it were on free TV? We will never know.
  

  I understand the need to generate funds to bring Messi to the USA, but if one of the main objectives of that pursuit was to grow the game, one has to wonder how that is achieved with the current model. It seems that we either have enthusiastic fans who are willing to pay for soccer content or those who will simply watch the highlights on YouTube. It's a shame that the local market didn't get a freebie last night, but I admit I want it both ways. I want Messi playing in MLS, but I also want people to be able to watch this match without having to pay $99 for the league pass on Apple. Most importantly, I want kids to have the opportunity to watch both Doncic and Messi so that they can develop an eternal love for sports, just like I do.

• What makes Messi the GOAT? Even at the age of 36, it is undeniable for many of us. If we break down the components of a player with the ball in the beautiful game, it comes down to dribbling, passing, and shooting. For over a decade, he has been the best in the world in all three aspects. Nobody dribbles through traffic better, nobody sets up teammates with glorious passes more often, and certainly, nobody has mastered the art of hitting impossible free kicks from 20-30 yards out like he has.
  

  The absolute certainty of that 4th goal, when everyone in the stadium seemed to know that Dallas could form any wall it wants and yet, the match was about to be tied, was simply remarkable. There was never a doubt. Don’t believe me? Check out this video where my 17-year-old can be heard essentially calling out the entire situation before it even happened:

  Here is a transcript of the conversation my son and I were having that was caught on my video:
  

  Me: “Which post”

  
  Justin: “Free kick? He is spotting it top right, the goalie is asking for it.”

  
  Me: “Top right? Wow. That would be wild.

  
  Justin: “The goalie is asking for it. He is asking for it!”

  
  Me: “Oh my gosh!!! He did not just do that! What happened?”
  

  I am just going to say that is what the joy of sports is all about and a moment my son and I will never forget. God bless sports.

• I was trying to think of perfect scenarios in the buildup to this match for the DFW soccer community. It might be the old idea of “I hope Jordan scores 50 and we still beat him” in a soccer version. I hope Messi shows this city why some of us get misty eyed explaining why he has brought us so much joy for so many years, but FC Dallas can still keep winning and perhaps grabbing new fans.
  
  Well, it did not quite go like that, but my experience last night will definitely guarantee my return to that stadium very soon. I will still petition hard for covered grandstands in what might be the hottest venue in world soccer for a fan to endure, but the memories will not be the 80 minute security line. The memories will be the eight goals, the eight more close-calls, the pulsating stadium, and the feeling that we were watching history. I have never been more pleased to be missing a great deal of cash.

  

• That is the look of a kiddo who just saw Messi live.