Messi leads Inter Miami vs. Earthquakes as San Jose fans abuzz over Argentine icon

Miami Herald

15-05-2025

Soccer fans in the San Francisco Bay Area started buzzing the moment Inter Miami star Lionel Messi and his teammates arrived on Sunday, ahead of Wednesday night's game against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Hundreds of them gathered outside the Miami team hotel, behind police barricades, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Argentine icon. They got their wish. Messi stepped out onto a balcony and waved to his worshippers, who chanted his name and captured the moment with their cell phones, similar to the kind of reception the Pope gets at the Vatican.
PayPal Park was sold out for the game, with the cheapest tickets going for $528 on the secondary market an hour before the 10:30 p.m. kickoff.
The fans will get a chance to see Messi on the field, as well. He was in the starting lineup along with goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, right back Marcelo Weigandt, center back Maxi Falcon, center back Noah Allen, left back Jordi Alba, midfielder Benja Cremaschi, midfielder Yannick Bright, midfielder Sergio Busquets, winger Tadeo Allende, and winger Telasco Segovia.
Forward Luis Suarez and winger Fafa Picault were missing for the second game in a row. Suarez is out of town for personal reasons and Picault is dealing with migraine headaches that kept him out of Saturday's game at Minnesota United, which Miami lost 4-1.
Miami's bench included Rocco Rios Novo, Ian Fray, Toto Aviles, David Martinez, Gonzalo Lujan, Fede Redondo, Leo Afonso, Baltasar Rodriguez and Allen Obando.
Miami has lost four of the past five games and is desperate for a victory against the Quakes.
The Earthquakes, under former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena, lead MLS in scoring this season with 26 goals.
San Jose's Colombian forward Cristian Arango is tied with Vancouver's Brian White for the league lead with eight goals. Former Inter Miami forward Josef Martinez of Venezuela, who joined the Earthquakes this year, has six goals. Argentine midfielder Cristian Espinoza has four goals and an MLS-best seven assists.
The Quakes' Starting XI included: Daniel, Rodrigues, Daniel Munie, Dave Romney, DeJuan Jones, Beaux Leroux, Ian Harkes, Vitor Costa, Espinoza, Ousseni Bouda, and Arango. Among the players on the bench was former Inter Miami forward Josef Martinez.
The game is being shown on Apple TV MLS Season Pass.