Since Lionel Messi arrived in the United States, MLS fans have been coming to the stadium more than ever, with single-match attendance records also broken.

65.000 khán giả chờ xem Messi thi đấu trận cuối mùa với Inter Miami

The 2023 MLS Playoffs are coming up and some big names will be absent. Both Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will not be participating as Inter Miami failed to qualify, while Chicharito Hernandez’s LA Galaxy will also not be able to participate. However, the four players mentioned above along with many other names have contributed to making 2023 the year with the largest number of match attendees in MLS history.

“History was made! Our players gave it their all on the field and fans turned out in record numbers. Thank you to everyone who attended MLS matches this season. Your amazing support has taken MLS to the next level! Here’s to more unforgettable moments for years to come,” MLS commissioner Don Garber posted on social media.

Nhờ có Messi, MLS lập nên kỳ tích chưa từng có trong lịch sử 345218

The Messi effect has created an unprecedented fever in MLS. Photo: GETTY
How many fans will attend MLS matches on average in 2023?

A total of 10,900,804 fans attended matches at MLS stadiums this season, an average of 22,111, up about 5% from 21,033 in 2022. This year’s number is 5% higher. % compared to the previous highest average attendance record (22,106) set in the 2017 season.

Which MLS match is the most attended in 2023?
On July 4, the attendance record for an MLS match was broken when LA Galaxy hosted Los Angeles FC at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, with an announced crowd of 82,100. This happened just a few weeks before Messi – the 7-time Golden Ball winner – made his debut for Inter Miami.

With the next transfer window expected to bring in more global stars and Messi playing his first full season in the league, is it likely that this record will be broken again in 12 months?

Nhờ có Messi, MLS lập nên kỳ tích chưa từng có trong lịch sử 345219

MLS has welcomed a record high number of people to the stadium since Messi joined Inter Miami. Photo: Twitter

Inter Miami sees its 2023 audience soar
In 2023, only five of the 29 teams in MLS saw average attendance decline from last year. Houston Dynamo (-8.5%), followed by Real Salt Lake (-5.1%), Seattle Sounders (-4.3%), Portland Timbers (-3.1%) and Toronto FC (-0, 5%).

Lionel Messi ẵm hai danh hiệu cá nhân, lập hàng loạt kỷ lục vĩ đại - 2sao

Nine teams recorded double-digit percentage increases, unsurprisingly led by Inter Miami. The average attendance of the team owned by Beckham soared from 12,637 to 17,698 (+40%) – far exceeding the following names such as San Jose Earthquakes (+20.7%), Orlando City (+19, 3%), NYCFC (+15.3%), Chicago Fire (+14.7%), FC Cincinnati (+12.8%), New England Revolution (+12.8%), CF Montreal (+11, 3%) and FC Dallas (+10.6%).