Column: Lionel Messi’s absence doesn’t spoil the mood at the Chicago Fire-Inter Miami match at Soldier Field

Few athletes are legendary enough to have souvenir stands at opposing venues that sell nothing but items associated with their name.

But Lionel Messi jerseys and T-shirts were the only things available at selected stands outside Soldier Field on Wednesday, even as the Inter Miami CF superstar did not play against the Chicago Fire.

When I asked where someone could buy a Fire jersey, the concession worker directed me inside the stadium.

Not that anyone was looking for one. This night was all about Messi, the MLS’s biggest drawing card and perhaps the sport’s greatest ambassador since Pelé.

Nearly everyone in the huge crowd that filed into Soldier Field seemed to be wearing Messi jerseys, whether representing Inter Miami or Argentina. Perhaps the biggest event in Chicago soccer since the Fire won the MLS Cup in 1998 took place on a warm October night on the lakefront, and the absence of the man of the hour seemed almost irrelevant.

It was almost like a U2 concert without Bono or an episode of “Friends” without Jennifer Aniston.

The show must go on, even without the star attraction.

“It’s a little frustrating to go to a game and expect to see Michael Jordan and he’s not going to play,” said Daniel Hackett, a Fire season ticket holder from downstate Jacksonville, Ill. “But maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. We have a chance to make the playoffs, and (Inter Miami) not having him play can only help us.

“Still, as a true soccer fan, you want to play the best, and if you enjoy the sport you want to see the best players play.”

The Fire dominated in a 4-1 win, taking over the No. 8 and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with two matches remaining.

The Fire had a rare sellout based on the possibility of Messi playing. The team announced after the victory that a franchise-record 62,124 fans attended the game, more than four times their season average of around 14,000. People knew for a couple of weeks that Messi was questionable, but that didn’t spoil the atmosphere.

At Burnham Downs, the interactive area outside the stadium, hundreds of kids played soccer, foosball, bags or other games. The Fire even had a goat on hand to honor Messi, considered by many as the GOAT. A Messi T-shirt featured a goat wearing sunglasses.

“I don’t know if he’s going to be here, but it’s really all about the experience,” said Julia Ramirez of San Antonio, who brought her son to see Messi. “I just want to see him, even if he’s sitting on the bench. He’s legendary, and we don’t get to see him much in the U.S.”

As it turned out, Messi, 36, did not even accompany the team to Chicago. He has missed five of Miami’s last six matches. When he has played Messi has lived up to the hype, scoring 11 goals in 12 matches and leading Inter Miami to an 8-0-4 record.

The Fire offered fans who bought tickets a chance to get a $250 account credit “toward new memberships” for the 2024 season or a $50 account credit for those unable to use the new member credit. It wasn’t as good as a refund for fans who purchased the tickets specifically to see Messi, but at least it was something from the Fire to show they understood fans came out for one reason.

David Dugger, of Lisle, who was attending his third Fire game with his two sons, said he was disappointed about the Messi news but happy about the size of the crowd and the media attention the matchup received.

“At the end of the day it’s an opportunity for everyone to get together and enjoy soccer,” Duggar said. “The sport is growing with the hype, and Messi is helping. Hopefully we can catch up to the rest of the world in my life. Soccer is a gentleman’s sport, and Messi is bigger than MLS itself, which he knows.

“Give him credit. If he wanted to he could’ve gone to Saudi Arabia and gotten all that money. It’s nice to see a star of his caliber say ‘I don’t need it.’ Playing here (in the United States) is more about his legacy.”

A Saudi Arabia-based club, Al-Hilal, offered Messi a reported $400 million per year to join. He instead opted to sign with Inter Miami and help build soccer in the U.S.

Some fans who bought scalped tickets to Wednesday’s match probably were miffed, but the Messi game provided the Fire with a great marketing opportunity, and the team took full advantage.

“It’s a different feeling now,” Hackett said. “We have players like (goalie Chris) Brady, who is unreal, and (Miguel) Navarro is a bulldog. (Xherdan) Shaqiri gets everyone fired up. It’s a good team with a lot of passion. And the owner (Joe Mansueto) continues to build.”

The Fire can use their moment in the spotlight to create a bigger fan base in Chicago, and perhaps the lure of Messi’s return to Soldier Field with Inter Miami in 2024 can help sell some season tickets.

But obviously winning is the only real solution to making the Fire a must-see team. In a city starved for winners, the ball is in their court.