No Messi, no party.
Fans in attendance for the Vancouver Whitecaps match against Inter Miami last Saturday, who were most certainly expecting to see Lionel Messi on the pitch at the time of buying their tickets, were not impressed with the Argentine’s ‘unexcused’ absence.
Vancouver fans' reaction to Lionel Messi's absence vs. Whitecaps
Despite Messi’s confirmed absence for the game days prior, along with stars Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets, fans present at BC Place made their inconformity known.
A man in the stands detailed the extreme expenses to be present at the stadium which were, before Messi and Miami decided for the Argentine to not make the trip to Canada, all worth it. Almost $4000 spent on flights, hotels and tickets in their effort to watch the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Other fans decided to personally edit their jerseys, with a group of friends placing tape over the former Barcelona man’s name to make the words “Missing,” and “No Messi Around" on their backs.
Spotted at @bcplace in Vancouver before @WhitecapsFC v @InterMiamiCF: fans protesting the absence of Lionel Messi. (Jacoline Jensen) @MLS #vwfc #MissingMessi #MessiNay #vanpoli #bcpoli #SportsBiz pic.twitter.com/bk0esKKpyS
— Read theBreaker.news Listen to #thePodcast (@theBreakerNews) May 26, 2024
During the match, fans around the stands also gathered their voices to start a chant asking for the Argentine star. “Where is Messi? Where is Messi?” chanted the Canadian crowd.
Fans in Vancouver chanting “where is Messi?” ️ pic.twitter.com/3pegi9OkUl
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) May 26, 2024
Even without Messi, Suárez and Busquets presence, BC Place recorded a historic attendance for an MLS game with over 51,000 fans.
That’s an @MLS era club record
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 26, 2024
