A rare case in football.. The stadium’s stadium has Messi’s name written on it!

Inter Miami, the defending champion of the American Football League, decided to name one of the stands of its new stadium after its veteran Argentine star, Lionel Messi, according to what was announced on Friday.

The club said in a statement that its new stadium, “Nou Stadium,” which has a capacity of 26,700 spectators, will include the “Lionel Messi Coliseum” when it hosts its first match on April 4.
He added, “Inter Miami is pleased to announce the Lionel Messi Coliseum, with our No. 10 player and captain preparing to become part of a rare and unique case in global sports: a player who regularly plays matches in a stadium bearing his name.”
The “No Stadium” was built specifically for the club to replace the “Chase Stadium” in Fort Lauderdale, which has hosted Inter matches since it joined the American League in 2020.
Messi joined Inter three years ago, and under his leadership transformed the club to four titles, including the local league in 2025 and the League Cup in 2023.
The club explained that naming Messi’s name on the runway reflects the continuing influence of the 38-year-old Argentine star, adding, “Traditionally, honors are based on the past. They are built on nostalgia. On memory.”
He added, “This is different. This was born from the present. From what is happening now. From what you feel whenever Leo steps onto the field,” considering that “recognizing someone does not always mean closing a chapter. Rather, sometimes it is about realizing that you are a witness to something unique.”