Lionel Messi is coming to the Mile High City in 2026 - and he’s bringing the reigning MLS Cup champs with him.
Inter Miami will face the Colorado Rapids at Empower Field at Mile High on Saturday, April 18, at 2:30 p.m. MT. This isn't just any regular-season matchup - it’s a full-circle celebration for the Rapids, who are marking their 30th anniversary by returning to the site of their inaugural match back in 1996.
While the Rapids typically call DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City home, this one’s different. The team is heading to the Denver Broncos’ stadium for a milestone moment, and there’s no bigger headliner to mark the occasion than Messi himself.
At 38, Messi continues to be a global phenomenon - and he’s still playing like it. This will be his first appearance in Colorado against the Rapids, a notable moment considering the two sides last met in Florida in 2024, where they battled to a 2-2 draw.
Since arriving in MLS midway through the 2023 season, Messi has done what Messi does: elevate everything around him. After leaving Paris Saint-Germain, he joined Inter Miami and immediately transformed the club into a title contender - and now, a champion.
In 2025 alone, he racked up 43 goals and 26 assists over 49 matches, leading Miami to an MLS Cup title and earning both the league MVP and MLS Cup Final MVP honors. Add that to a growing list that already includes a Leagues Cup win in 2023 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2024, and it’s clear Messi isn’t just making an impact - he’s building a legacy stateside.
For Rapids fans, this is a rare opportunity to see one of the greatest ever play live, on their home turf, in a venue built for big moments. And for the club, it’s a chance to honor its roots in front of what’s expected to be a massive crowd.
Tickets go on sale in January, and if history is any indication, they won’t last long.
Empower Field will also play host to another major soccer event in 2026: the Denver Summit’s inaugural NWSL match on March 28. That expansion team, backed in part by Broncos legend Peyton Manning, will be making its debut in front of what should be a highly energized local crowd.
But for now, all eyes are on April 18. Messi.
Miami. Mile High.
It’s a date Rapids fans - and soccer fans across the region - won’t want to miss.