Messi’s Milestone and MLS Expansion: Inter Miami’s Baltimore Showcase Draws Record Crowd

Baltimore, MD – A crowd of 72,026 flocked to M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, to witness Inter Miami CF defeat D.C. United 2-1 in a Major League Soccer (MLS) match highlighted by Lionel Messi’s 899th career goal. The game, moved from D.C. United’s Audi Field to accommodate the massive demand, marked one of the top 10 most attended matches in MLS history ESPN.

Messi Reaches 899 Goals, Nears Ronaldo’s Milestone

Lionel Messi scored in the 27th minute, extending his professional goal tally to 899. He is now one goal shy of becoming only the second men’s player in history to reach 900 career goals, trailing Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved the milestone in 2024 Startpage, ESPN.

Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring for Inter Miami in the 17th minute, although Tai Baribo scored for D.C. United in the 75th minute ESPN.

Baltimore’s Enthusiasm and Economic Impact

The match generated significant excitement in Baltimore, with fans expressing their delight at the opportunity to see Messi play in their city. Local businesses, such as MaGerk’s Pub in Federal Hill, reported a substantial boost in revenue, marking one of the first major events of the year for the city The Guardian.

“We’ve been planning for this for months,” said William Thornhill, from MaGerk’s Pub. “January, February, are pretty rough. It’s cold. People are saving money and Modern Year’s resolutions, so this is kind of one of the first big days we’ve had in a while where people were out all day long. They’re enjoying themselves, and it’s good for us. We make a lot of money, and we have a good time.”

D.C. United’s Baltimore Expansion Plans

D.C. United is actively pursuing expansion into Baltimore, with plans to establish a multi-team soccer campus, including a professional women’s team, a minor league men’s team, and a youth academy The Guardian.

The project centers around the construction of a 7,500-seat stadium in Baltimore, estimated to cost around $200 million. NBA legend and Baltimore native Carmelo Anthony is slated to be one of the owners of the new facility The Guardian.

White House Visit and Upcoming Schedule

The match followed Inter Miami’s visit to the White House earlier in the week ESPN. Inter Miami will next face Nashville in their first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup ESPN.