Inter Miami's match against D.C. United at Audi Field feature a “mass of pink” in the stands despite Lionel Messi not playing. Messi “wasn’t even in D.C.” as he was “in South Florida.” The “disappointing news” that Messi would miss the match became official Friday, but no one at Audi Field “appeared to be ready to revolt” on Saturday. There were “no audible boos when Inter Miami starters took the field.” The fans “missed out on Messi” but saw F Luis Suárez score twice (WASHINGTON POST, 3/16). Messi missed the match with a "hamstring injury suffered Wednesday, and at the end of four matches over 10 days.” Meanwhile, United’s supporters’ groups “continued protesting the club’s preseason trip to Saudi Arabia by hanging a banner that read ‘Remember Khashoggi’” (WASHINGTON POST, 3/16).
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that Messi’s shirt was Adidas’ “number one jersey of any sport.” Last September, MLS announced that Messi’s Miami shirt was the “league’s best-seller of 2023, even though he had only signed with Miami three months earlier at that point” (THE ATHLETIC, 3/15).
