Keeler: Shohei Ohtani, Nikola Jokic rocked Denver on Saturday — but Lionel Messi outdrew them both
- Posted on April 19, 2026
- By The Denver Post
- 10 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Lionel Messi's inaugural appearance for Inter Miami in Colorado generated unprecedented fan engagement, surpassing the attendance impact of simultaneous NBA star performances. The Argentine soccer legend's presence at Empower Field drew record numbers of supporters wearing his iconic number 10 jersey, demonstrating the global appeal of Messi compared to major professional athletes. This historic debut highlighted the growing influence of soccer in American sports culture and the magnetic draw of one of football's greatest players.
Keeler: Shohei Ohtani, Nikola Jokic rocked Denver on Saturday — but Lionel Messi outdrew them both
With Lionel Messi making his Colorado debut, there were more No. 10 jerseys at Empower Field Saturday than half of the Broncos home games last fall.
