‘Where is Messi?’ — How Vancouver handled Miami star’s absence with jokes, boos and hockey players

VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 25: A young soccer fan holds a Lionel Messi jersey before the start of the Inter Miami CF and Vancouver Whitecaps game at BC Place during their MLS match on May 25, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Messi did not make the trip to Vancouver and will not be playing. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
By The Athletic Staff
May 26, 2024

As soon as it was announced that Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets would not travel with Inter Miami for the club’s match in Vancouver on Saturday night, the disappointment from fans who paid inflated prices and traveled great distances to attend the game was clear. But once match day rolled around and they had a bit of time to process that disappointment, how would it all manifest inside BC Place?

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Well, there were boos, of course. As soon as the match kicked off and Inter Miami took possession, a chorus of boos rang out through the stadium. That was followed by a chant that began in Qatar two years ago and continued in Atlanta last year: “Where is Messi?” (Answer: he was in Fort Lauderdale watching his son Thiago play for Miami’s academy with Luis Suarez at his side.)

But there were also signs, including one that spelled out just how much some fans spent to attend the match.

Another pointed out that some fans were happy to see Vancouver’s “Mini Messi” Ryan Gauld.

 

Others in attendance, however, were just happy to see that one of Miami’s other famous faces did make the trip: bodyguard Yassine Cheuko.

And then there was someone who might have been more popular than Messi in Vancouver even if he had shown up: Canucks all-star forward JT Miller.

 

Inter Miami got out to a 2-0 lead within the first hour of the match even without three of their stars, but Gauld converted a penalty to give Vancouver fans something to cheer about in the 72nd minute. The home side threatened to equalize until the very end, providing an entertaining match for the MLS-record crowd of 51,032, but Miami held on to win 2-1 even without Messi.

With that win, Miami still has the best record in MLS and extends their unbeaten streak to 10 consecutive matches.

(Top photo: Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

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