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Story by Alan Snel Photo by J. Tyge O’Donnell
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — It’s a Saturday in Vegas and the NHL Golden Knights were in Chicago playing the Blackhawks, while the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels played San Diego State in San Diego.
But there was still some sports star power in Las Vegas tonight.
Lionel Messi, the 37-year-old Argentina native, was inside Allegiant Stadium for a preseason match between his Inter Miami club and Mexican champs Club America of Mexico City.
Security expected about 35,000 to 40,000 fans in the domed NFL stadium run by the Las Vegas Raiders to see Messi.
So many who attended donned their pink Inter Miami Messi jersey.
Allegiant Stadium has hosted high-level soccer matches since it opened in 2020.
But one look at the pitch shows there is scant room on the sidelines and the corners, and the stadium field failed to meet World Cup specs so Las Vegas was not in the running to host the world’s premier soccer event in June and July of 2026.
Exhibition games, though, are workable and there was a strong sense of Mexico City inside the venue that sits on the west side of Interstate 15 across from Mandalay Bay.
As for the out-of-town Vegas scores, the Golden Knights lost their third straight road game in Chicago, 5-3, after losses to Nashville and Carolina.
But UNLV defeated San Diego State, 76-68, to improve to 11 wins and seven losses on the season.
For the record, Messi scored a goal in the 2-2 tie.