Patrick Mahomes Meets Lionel Messi at Arrowhead Stadium: The Encounter and Reactions

The meeting between Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi at Arrowhead Stadium on April 13 was a moment that left Mahomes feeling “nervous,” despite his own superstar status in American football. The encounter between the two sporting icons took place before Messi’s Inter Miami faced Sporting Kansas City, and Mahomes admitted that he wasn’t sure if Messi even recognized him.

In a recent interview on the ImPaulsive podcast, Mahomes shared his experience of meeting Messi in the hallway at the stadium. He recounted feeling unsure of what to say to the soccer legend, eventually settling on a simple “Have fun out there.” Messi went on to have a stellar performance, scoring a goal and providing an assist in the match that saw Inter Miami edge out Kansas City 3-2 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 72,610 fans at Arrowhead Stadium.

Despite being a household name in the United States, Mahomes acknowledged that he doesn’t quite have the same level of international recognition as Messi. The Chiefs quarterback, who is also a part-owner of MLS team Sporting Kansas City, expressed uncertainty about whether Messi knew who he was, jokingly suggesting that he should wear his football uniform next time to ensure recognition.

Mahomes’ passion for soccer is evident through his investments in Sporting Kansas City, the National Women’s Super League team Kansas City Current, as well as his ownership stake in the MLB team Kansas City Royals and the Formula One team Alpine. The meeting between Mahomes and Messi highlighted the mutual respect between two sporting greats from different disciplines, showcasing the universal appeal of sports and the admiration that transcends boundaries.