I Dig Sports
WELCOME, N.C. Richard Childress Racing announced several key executive leadership appointments as the storied organization kicks off the NASCAR season.
After serving as chief operating officer for over a year, Mike Verlander has been promoted to president of the championship motorsports company.
Verlander is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations of RCR Enterprises, LLC, including RCRs NASCAR race team, as well as RCR Manufacturing Solutions, RCR Graphics, ECR Engines and Childress Technologies.
Verlander will report to Richard Childress, chairman and chief executive officer, and will also become a member of the Board of Directors for RCR.
As a 20-year veteran of the motorsports industry, Verlander has previously held executive leadership positions at both Kyle Busch Motorsports as president and Stewart-Haas Racing as executive vice president.
I am extremely thankful to Richard and Judy for this opportunity to lead RCR as we continue to expand our operations within the motorsports industry and beyond, said Verlander. Having Torrey close by as an advisor while I make this transition is invaluable. Im ready to build up on the great things achieved by Torrey and the whole leadership team. Great days are coming for our employees, partners, fans, and all stakeholders.
Galida, who has served as president since 2014, has been named vice chairman. As the first person other than Childress to carry the title of president, Galida has led RCRs growth for the past fourteen years.
I have been honored to play a role in RCRs success during my tenure as president, said Galida. I cant thank Richard and Judy, and the entire organization, enough for the past fourteen years and I feel lucky to have been part of this team. Im looking forward to this next chapter of my career where I can focus on key strategic operations within the RCR organization and continue to make an impact.
Galida will remain with the company as an advisor to both Childress and Verlander through the end of 2025. Galida will also retain his seat on the Board of Directors for RCR.
Torrey has been a tremendous asset to RCR in his role as president, said Childress. He has been a strong leader and helped us navigate many changes and challenges over recent years. I am proud of the work that he has done and the direction he has led the organization. He will continue to contribute to our future.
Mike has also done a great job this past year in his role as chief operating officer as he has learned all aspects of our organization, said Childress. He has a clear vision for our future and will foster a culture that inspires our entire team. I look forward to seeing our continued growth under his leadership.
What started as a promise to find him a seat in the Daytona 500 turned into a reality after nearly three years.
While competing with the now-defunct Superstar Racing Experience, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves was told by CEO Don Hawk that if he won a race with the series, Hawk, who has extensive ties in the NASCAR Cup Series garage, would make Castroneves wish happen.
Sure enough, a victory at Floridas Five Flags Speedway in 2022 was the first major step.
A chance with The Money Team Racings No. 50 opened for the 2023 edition of the Great American Race, however, Castroneves declined due to the quality of the ride.
We didnt think it was going to be a good opportunity, so we decided not to do it, Castroneves said.
Fellow open-wheel driver Conor Daly was tapped to pilot the part-time entry, where he raced his way into the Daytona 500 despite countless hurdles.
Castroneves waited.
Then, Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks came along, where the opportunity to pilot the teams No. 91 Chevrolet was a no-brainer decision.
The program, as you guys noticed, Im not the only one doing this, Castroneves said. Its been very well-made, it takes a lot of effort from a lot of people. Im glad that everything fit perfect.
To be in the biggest race, one of the biggest races of the world obviously, Indy 500 and Daytona 500 are the biggest. What an opportunity to be here and do that.
Following the announcement of his entry into the event, the 49-year-old has been fully immersed in stock car racing. Castroneves tested an ARCA Menards Series car in January as hell compete in the series opener on Saturday.
Off the race track, Castroneves has been precise with preparation to ensure a smooth experience as one can have at an unpredictable race track.
Ive been watching a lot of in-car cameras, a lot of the rules to understand the rules, Castroneves explained. Ive been in touch with the guys, as well, to make sure that we are on the same The lingo is different.
Face it, when you come out of the pits, in IndyCar they say, Go, go, go. Here its, Dig, dig, dig. I know it sounds interesting or different. Its completely the opposite that Im used to. I have to adapt. Pit stops here, for example, you have to stop a little bit away from the wall because you have to have the jack guy have space for them to raise the car. IndyCar you get close so the fuel gets as quick as possible.
All these little details, even its a race car, its very different, Castroneves continued. To be in a big race like this, every detail matters. Thats why Im trying to study all of these details to make sure that at least Ill take out of the way and know what to do.
Looking forward, for sure. Every time I said Im in the car, Im going to take the learning.
The steep learning process officially began on Wednesday as Castroneves took his first laps in a Cup Series car during the lone practice session in the afternoon. He clocked in with the 12th-fastest time.
Castroneves later undertook night qualifying at the 2.5-mile oval where he qualified 39th out of 45 cars.
While Castroneves will have to technically race his way into the Daytona 500 during the Daytona Duels on Thursday, hell be able to fall back on the newly introduced provisional in case hes unable to do so.
NASCAR implemented the rule to ensure drivers that hold accolades carrying significant weight like Castroneves are able to make the field.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Trackhouse Racing has the most international driving lineup in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series and the Daytona 500.
The Chevrolet teams four drivers for Sundays 67th running of the Great American Race hale from four different countries.
Ross Chastain is from Florida, Daniel Suarez is Mexican, Shane van Gisbergen is a native of New Zealand and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, who has joined the operation for the Daytona 500, is Brazilian.
Its a cool thing that were all from our different countries, said Chastain, who drives the No. 1 machine. Thats what Justin (Marks) wanted when he did this. He wanted to be different. This is a way to do that. Just look worldwide and see whats out there. Helio was in Miami, so America is home for him. South Florida guy so we have that in common.
How to look at it from a bigger picture that will probably hit me on Sunday when I realize that little old Trackhouse that I remember was a one-car team. I remember when Justin was just a driver not just but when he was a driver and an owner. Then when he hired me to be the second driver, I remember how big of a deal that felt. And now weve doubled that size. Its going to be a cool moment on Sunday.
A veteran of Australian Supercar racing, Van Gisbergen is the uniqueness of the situation.
Its just amazing what Justin and Trackhouse have achieved, he said. Have such a diverse lineup at a race like this, its epic. Four different nationalities, were probably going to be talking about loose, tight, oversteer and understeer in different languages but probably meaning the same thing.
Language may be considered an obstacle in such situations. Suarez was asked specifically what language the drivers use to communicate.
So far we speak in English, Suarez said with a laugh. Actually, I have a lot of people dont know this, but I have a very hard time understanding Shane (van Gisbergen). His English, I dont know. I dont know if you guys do the same or not, but my English clearly is way more limited than most of you guys. Every time hes talking to me, I really have to pay attention. Eighty percent of the time I have to have him repeat something because his accent is just way different than what Im used to, I guess.
Suarez as well credits Marks and Trackhouse Racing for the diversity of the team.
Obviously, Trackhouse has been known for the last several years to do things like this, he said. So Im not surprised having a teammate from New Zealand and another one from Brazil and myself. I guess Ross is the outlier right now.
Castronveves said the teams driver lineup increases exposure in other countries.
Theyre innovating, Castronves said. This project, I would say I dont think a Team Penske or MSR or any other big team would be able to do it. They are thinking outside the box, which I like that.
In terms of organization, the people that Justin also have the past and hire, wow, its incredible. As I said, my crew chief is a Daytona 500 winner. Its not like a B team when youre thinking about. This is a real deal and Im glad they put this group together.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Heading into Thursday nights Duels at Daytona that set the field for Sundays 67th Daytona 500, essentially only two spots in the field remain.
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and 2016 series champion Martin Truex Jr. locked into the field during Wednesdays qualifying session, while four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves is secured a spot in the field by way of NASCARs Open Exemption Provisional for World Class Drivers.
However, all three could improve their positions in the starting field by racing their way in during the two qualifying races.
Truex earned the 12th starting spot in the first Duel, while Johnson, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, starts 14th in the second Duel.
Should Truex or Johnson earn the one available race-in position in each Duel, Justin Allgaier (first Duel) and Corey LaJoie (second Duel) could earn a spot based on their qualifying times.
While only the front row (Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric) is set for the Daytona 500, all drivers including the 36 charter teams will earn starting spots based on finishing position in the Duels.
Truex, who is driving for TRICON Garage, leads the Open cars in the first Duel. Justin Allgaier, aboard the first-time Cup Series entry for Dale Earnhardt Jr.s JRM Motorsports team, will start 17th in hopes of racing into the field.
Castroneves (20th), Chandler Smith (22nd) and J.J. Yeley (23rd) will also be racing for the qualifying position. However, if Castroneves does not earn it, the field will expand to 41 cars to accommodate his provisional status.
Johnson, in his Legacy Motor Club entry, leads the Open contingent in the second Duel. Chasing Johnson for the guaranteed spot are LaJoie, who starts 17th in a Rick Ware Racing Ford, Anthony Alfredo (20th) and B.J. McLeod (21st).
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore will miss the remainder of the 4 Nations Face-Off after sustaining an upper-body injury while playing for Canada.
The Knights announced Thursday that Theodore is week-to-week, one day after he was pushed into the glass on a hit by Sweden's Adrian Kempe in the second period of Canada's 4-3 overtime victory.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim will draw in to replace Theodore in the lineup for Canada. Sanheim was a healthy scratch on Wednesday.
Theodore, 29, has 48 points (seven goals, 41 assists) and averages 22:03 of ice time in 55 games for the Knights this season.
A Stanley Cup winner with Vegas, Theodore has 354 points (78 goals, 276 assists) in 552 career games with the Anaheim Ducks and Golden Knights.
Sources: Qatar cooling investment in France, PSG
Qatar's investment vehicles are cooling their interests in France, sources have told ESPN, including the majority owners of Paris Saint-Germain.
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) -- the country's sovereign wealth fund, which has an estimated 500 billion of assets -- and PSG's majority ownership group, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), have already slowed down their investments in the country.
Sources have told ESPN that the change in investment strategy has taken place for over a year and does not come as a reaction to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi being subject to an investigation in France into possible corruption.
The investigation does not relate to Al-Khelaifi's activities at PSG, but rather his links to a French businessman, a judicial official told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The Associated Press reported that he has been handed preliminary charges of complicity in the alleged buying of a vote and harming of freedom to vote, and of complicity in abuse of power to the detriment of the Lagardere group.
Preliminary charges in France mean the suspect could be freed if an investigation turns up nothing, or formally indicted and sent to trial.
Al-Khelaifi denies the charges.
A source close to Al-Khelaifi told ESPN: "This file has absolutely and emphatically nothing to do with Nasser Al-Khelaifi, but as usual he will get dragged through a completely spurious process as a famous name, who is apparently responsible for anything and everything, until everything quietly disappears without any grounds whatsoever in a few years."
Qatari officials have been considering their position in France for some time after growing tired of what they perceive as unfair treatment from local media, the French justice system and national politicians.
QIA owns a significant number of properties and hotels among other business interests in Paris, but it has already begun selling parts of its French portfolio.
France used to be one of the priority markets for QIA, QSI, beIN Media Group and Qatar's other investment arms.
QSI bought PSG in 2011. The group have overseen significannt investment in the transfer market, signing players such as Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Lionel Messi.
It resulted in 10 Ligue 1 titles and a host of other domestic honours in the succeeding 13 years, although the club has continually failed to achieve QSI's goal of winning the Champions League.
American investment fund Arctos, in partnership with NBA star Kevin Durant, acquired a minority common equity stake in PSG in December 2023.
The move showed QSI's desire to attract outside investors in the club, while it has also broadened its portfolio of investments outside of France, including a minority stake in Portuguese club Braga.
Meanwhile, beIN Media Group, who through beIN Sports own the broadcast rights to Ligue 1, has been involved in investment talks with Saudi Arabia for over a year. It has also reduced its overall spend on media rights in France.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Liverpool's Slot awaits ban after Everton drama
Liverpool manager Arne Slot must wait to discover the extent of his ban after he was sent off amid fractious scenes at the end of Wednesday's Merseyside derby.
Slot approached referee Michael Oliver after a melee between the two sets of players following the full-time whistle had seen Everton's Abdoulaye Doucouré and Liverpool's Curtis Jones sent off for second bookable offences.
Doucouré appeared to celebrate in front of Liverpool supporters after James Tarkowski's goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time earned Everton a 2-2 draw in the last-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Jones reacted angrily and ran over to confront Doucouré, which led to ugly scenes.
Slot shook Oliver's hand and appeared to say something to the referee, who then immediately produced another red card.
Liverpool assistant manager Spike Hulshoff was also sent off.
There is no automatic suspension for a manager who has been dismissed, and any sanction has to come via a Football Association (FA) charge, which must be communicated to Liverpool no later than Monday.
Liverpool would then have three business days following the charge to submit a response, with the FA allowed a further three days to issue a reply.
It means Slot is almost certain to be on the touchline for Liverpool's next two games, on Sunday at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wednesday's trip to Aston Villa.
The extent of the disciplinary action for Slot will depend on what he said, and what is in Oliver's report. An extended touchline ban can be imposed by a Regulatory Commission if misconduct is deemed serious enough to warrant further measures.
However, Jones will automatically be banned from the Wolves game, while Doucouré is suspended for his side's visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Both clubs also face a Football Association charge for failing to control their players. Slot was unable to give his reaction after the game, as managers are barred from media duties if they are shown a red card.
However, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said Oliver had "lost control" of the match.
"Obviously you saw how they celebrated the goal, and they have every right to," Van Dijk told TNT Sports.
"I think Doucouré in the end wanted to provoke our fans and Curtis didn't think that was the right thing to do and obviosuly you know what happens when there is a tussle.
"I think the ref didn't have the game under control in my opinion ... Both teams have to deal with it. It is what it is. We just need to move on."
Havertz out for season as Arsenal confirm surgery
Arsenal have confirmed that Kai Havertz has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury during the club's midseason training camp in Dubai.
The club confirmed that Havertz will undergo surgery in the next few days before beginning his recovery programme.
The injury comes as severe blow to Arsenal, who are now without a recognised striker given Gabriel Jesus has already been ruled out for the rest of the campaign following knee surgery.
Havertz has been a mainstay in Mikel Arteta's side this season with 34 appearances in all competitions and is the club's top scorer with 15 goals.
"We can confirm that Kai Havertz has sustained a hamstring injury during a training session in Dubai last week," Arsenal said in a statement.
"Subsequent assessments and specialist reviews have confirmed that the injury will require surgery, which will take place in the coming days. Soon after surgery, Kai will begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, which is expected to extend into preseason preparations for next season.
"Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Kai to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible."
Havertz's injury will renew scrutiny over Arsenal's decision to not sign a striker in the January transfer window.
Arteta admitted the club were short of attacking options and voiced his disappointment at missing out with sources confirming the club opted not to pursue a deal for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins after having a 40 million ($49.8m) offer rejected.
Longer-term targets including Benjamin Sesko at Red Bull Leipzig and Newcastle's Alexander Isak were not available.
Prior to Havertz's injury, Arsenal's attacking woes appeared to be easing up following Bukayo Saka's return to light training earlier this week.
The England international's last appearance for the club came against Crystal Palace in December, where he picked up a hamstring injury that required surgery.
Traveling with the squad to Dubai for their midseason training camp is a significant step in his recovery ahead of an expected return to action in March.
Information from ESPN's James Olley contributed to this report.
Ronaldo tops sport rich list, no women in top 100
Cristiano Ronaldo again topped the list of the world's highest-paid athletes with total income of $260 million in 2024, according to sports industry news site Sportico, but there were no women in the top 100.
The leading 100, dominated by players from football, the NBA, NFL, golf and boxing, earned an estimated $6.2 billion in total income last year. The figure includes $4.8 billion in salary and prize money, plus $1.4 billion in endorsements.
Former U.S. Open tennis champion Coco Gauff was the top-earning female athlete last year at $30.4 million, well short of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones who squeezed in at number 100 with a total income of $37.5 million.
Ronaldo's lucrative contract with Al Nassr ensured he retained top spot for a second straight year after he moved to the Saudi Pro League in December 2022.
Sportico said the Portugal forward, who celebrated his 40th birthday last week, earned a hefty $215 million in wages, while he also made $45 million in endorsements.
Ronaldo is so far ahead of the other athletes in the world that Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who is second on the list, earned $153.8 million in comparison -- more than $100 million short of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
British boxer Tyson Fury, who lost to Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk in a heavyweight clash in December, is third on the list at $147 million.
The top five are rounded out by Inter Miami's Argentina captain Lionel Messi ($135 million) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James ($133.2 million) -- the only 40-year-old playing in the NBA.
The list is made up of athletes from eight sports and hailing from 27 countries.
While American Gauff, who is only 20, could climb up the list in the years to come, there have been other women athletes who would have cracked the list in the past.
Business magazine Forbes said Japan's four-times Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka was the world's highest-paid female athlete in 2022 after she pulled in $57.3 million in prize money and endorsements.
Retired tennis great Serena Williams, who won 23 singles majors, earned $41.8 million in 2021, according to Forbes. The American retired from the sport in 2022 at the U.S. Open.
How Messi is rewriting the norms for teams across MLS, not just Inter Miami
Just two days before the Vancouver Whitecaps were set to host Inter Miami at BC Place, the Canadian side made an unprecedented announcement that infuriated fans, forced newsrooms into overdrive and left Miami scrambling for a response.
"While we haven't received an official update on the availability of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets for this weekend, we understand they will not make this trip," Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said in a statement last season. "Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent, and it was important for us to communicate to our fans as soon as possible."
Despite Messi's absence, the Whitecaps vowed to follow through with their scheduled pregame celebrations that included a block party, tailgates and several activations outside of the stadium. A team being first to reveal a roster update about an opponent was unusual; even more unprecedented was the Whitecaps' decision to offer a 50% discount in stadium food as a way of making up for the disappointment of an opposing player's absence.
Messi's power to disrupt teams' typical gameday protocol was seen again when the Chicago Fire last season offered an unprecedented compensation package to fans in case Messi failed to feature in an Aug. 31 match against Inter Miami. If Messi didn't play, the Fire offered to credit single-match buyers $250 off two or more new 2025 Chicago Fire season-ticket memberships or $100 off two or more single match tickets for the 2025 home match against Inter Miami.
Still, a Messi-less Inter Miami produced season-high crowds for the Whitecaps (51,035) and the Fire (55,385), which helps explain why teams are bending over backwards to fan the flames of "Messi mania."
Messi brings bigger stadiums, higher prices
When Messi joined MLS in the summer of 2023, teams swiftly adjusted to host one of the game's greatest. Now heading into Messi's third season in the league, MLS continues to navigate the revolutionary circumstances surrounding games that feature Messi's Inter Miami.
When teams prepare to host the Herons, it's not just a matter of stopping Messi on the field: they must also try to cash in by moving games to larger venues, preparing for massive crowds and campaigning around the arrival of a star-studded Inter Miami squad. New specialized marketing strategies and targeted efforts began running on team social channels and websites the day the 2025 schedule was announced.
The anticipation to face Messi drove every Inter Miami opponent to different decisions, but all made changes to account for a surge in attention, and 2025 is sure to bring more outside-the-box approaches. After all, Messi is in the last year of his Miami contract, and teams might not have another chance to capitalize on his presence.
Sporting Kansas City regularly plays at the soccer-specific Children's Mercy Park, which holds 18,467 spectators. But when facing Inter Miami last season, the Western Conference team moved to Arrowhead Stadium, the NFL venue boasting a capacity of 76,416. The price for tickets ranged from $100 to $290 in the upper bowl and $180 $600 in the lower bowl, depending on proximity to the pitch -- multiples more than typical tickets at Children's Mercy Park, depending on the section.
That match in Kansas City was a sellout, despite the larger venue. It drew 72,610 fans, the fourth-largest standalone crowd in MLS history and the most to attend a match during the 2024 regular season.
Charlotte FC, the New England Revolution, the Chicago Fire and Atlanta United already play in large NFL stadiums, but opted to expand the usual range of tickets so they could accommodate newfound local Miami supporters. These teams often close the upper bowls, leaving only the lower sections available for purchase, but changed their policies against Messi and the Herons.
In 2023, Atlanta boasted a crowd of 71,635 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face Miami -- the team's average attendance at the time was 47,526, the highest average of any MLS team in 2023. When Atlanta United stunned the Herons last season with a 2-1 victory in front of 68,455 spectators, it was the fifth-highest postseason attendance in MLS history, and the only first-round MLS playoff match to make the list.
In Charlotte, around 66,000 fans filled Bank of America Stadium for a regular-season game that many described as one of the most anticipated games in franchise history. The only time Charlotte FC has seen a larger audience was its inaugural match in front of 74,000 fans. Otherwise, the team averages around 36,000 supporters at a regular-season game.
The Revolution, a founding team of MLS that has been in the league since 1996, drew a club-record crowd of 65,612 fans at Gillette Stadium last season when they hosted Messi. That surpassed their 2002 MLS Cup final attendance record by 4,296, a record that stood for 22 years.
"To see the masses come alive whenever we show up is a cool thing," said Inter Miami player Julian Gressel. "It's incredible to see the support that follows us. There are some games where it's a bit strange, like in D.C. or New England, for example, the crowd is pretty much pro-Miami and pro-Messi."
When hosting Inter Miami at smaller, soccer-specific stadiums, tickets sell out quickly, which generates a competitive resale market. CF Montreal's Saputo Stadium can host 20,521 fans -- an average ticket in 2024 could cost as much as $69 with the lowest coming in at only $13, according to Seatgeek. But against Inter Miami, the average skyrocketed to $465.
The 2024 regular season game hosted by CF Montreal against Inter Miami now ranks within the top 10 most expensive MLS matches since 2009, according to VividSeats. The cheapest ticket available was priced at $325, while the most expensive reached $729 days before the match.
The high prices didn't stop fans, either. Saputo Stadium sold out, welcoming 19,619 fervent fans dressed in all kinds of costumes to show their support.
"The impact of Messi's arrival to Inter Miami CF continues to be momentous, with increased global demand on StubHub," said StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli in a release. "The surge in sales for Inter Miami, and the league as a whole, is a testament to his legacy as a soccer star. Messi's influence extends beyond the confines of his home stadium, driving demand on the road from buyers all over the world."
Inter Miami creating a never-before-seen buzz in MLS
Peter Vermes, the long-time head coach and sporting director of Sporting Kansas City, says MLS has made strides since he first became manager in 2009; he has been witness to most of MLS's biggest signings, including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa and Thierry Henry. And yet he says the mania surrounding Messi remains unparalleled.
"In 2010, we played Man United at Arrowhead and had something like 56,000 or 58,000 fans, and that was a big milestone for us in that," Vermes said. "Now, you're not bringing one of the most famous teams in the world to play against us. You're talking about playing against another MLS team. And now you have that 72,000 crowd. That in itself is unreal. It's a phenomenal progression that has happened in the league from that point of view ... it's like when Michael Jordan used to come to different places, all of a sudden, they sold out because other people wanted to see Michael Jordan play as well."
When the Houston Dynamo faced Inter Miami last season in the U.S. Open Cup final, a competition that has struggled to maintain a foothold in American soccer, Messi added a boost, too. Messi's availability for the match was questionable in the hours leading up to kick off, but Dynamo defender Griffin Dorsey said the buzz created by the Herons remains unparalleled in MLS with or without their captain on the field.
"Messi being around added something to that game that would not have been there if it wasn't," Dorsey said. "That buzz was very big. That whole Inter Miami team, especially last year, but also you see it this year -- it brings a lot to the league. There's always a lot more excitement and hype when you're playing against some of the best players who have ever played the game, period."
Indeed, the mere thought of the forward's presence incites commotion, Dynamo coach Ben Olsen said.
"Messi does add sizzle to this game," Olsen told ESPN. "And he's managed to do that to the league and to any opponent that's preparing for that team right now. They have transformed themselves into the marquee team in this league."
MLS announced that the overall average attendance increased by 23,240 in 2024: 10 games featured at least 45,000 fans, five games featured more than 50,000 fans and three surpassed 60,000. Inter Miami played in six of those top 10 matches, and Miami set the season record when playing Sporting KC at Arrowhead Stadium.
"His impact has been unimaginable," said MLS commissioner Don Garber. "The metrics on and off the field have been spectacular. And it's great to see Leo Messi deliver for MLS in ways that we had hoped he would."
Undoubtedly, wherever Messi goes, crowds will follow and norms will be broken. Nothing less should be expected in 2025 as the possibility of Messi's final season in MLS lingers in the minds of fans -- and opposing teams.
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
