Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi
On a spring night in April 2024, more than 72,000 fans packed Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. They weren’t there for football. Inter Miami was in town to face Sporting Kansas City, and Lionel Messi was playing. Before kickoff, Messi crossed paths with one of Kansas City’s biggest stars. “What’s up, man?” Messi said. Patrick Mahomes, a part-owner of Sporting KC, smiled back: “Good luck, man. Have fun out there.”
It was a brief exchange, but it brought together two of the greatest athletes of their generation. Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi play very different sports, but both have redefined what’s possible in their games.
This article covers their meeting, Mahomes’s praise for Messi, both of their backgrounds, career highlights, and their 2026 seasons.
Quick Facts
| Patrick Mahomes | Lionel Messi | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick Lavon Mahomes II | Lionel Andrés Messi |
| Born | September 17, 1995 | June 24, 1987 |
| Birthplace | Tyler, Texas, USA | Rosario, Argentina |
| Sport | American football (quarterback) | Soccer (forward) |
| Teams | Kansas City Chiefs | Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami |
| Biggest titles | 3 Super Bowls | 2022 World Cup, 4 Champions League titles |
| Individual awards | 2 NFL MVPs | 8 Ballon d’Or awards |
When Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi Met
On April 13, 2024, Inter Miami played Sporting Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ home field. Sporting KC moved the game to the much larger football stadium to handle demand to see Messi. Mahomes, who owns a stake in Sporting KC, was there and greeted Messi before the match.
“The G.O.A.T. of His Profession”
In February 2025, ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Mahomes praised Messi again. He called him “the G.O.A.T. of his profession” and said he hoped to emulate that kind of greatness someday. He also mentioned watching Messi play at Arrowhead the year before.
Patrick Mahomes: Early Life and Education
Patrick Mahomes was born on September 17, 1995, in Tyler, Texas. His father, Pat Mahomes, was a Major League Baseball pitcher, so Patrick grew up around pro clubhouses. He starred in football, baseball, and basketball at Whitehouse High School in Texas.
He played college football at Texas Tech, where he led the nation in passing in 2016.
Career Timeline
- 2017: Drafted 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.
- 2018: Became the starter, threw 50 touchdowns, and won NFL MVP.
- 2020: Led the Chiefs to a win in Super Bowl LIV, their first title in 50 years, and was named Super Bowl MVP.
- 2020: Signed a 10-year extension worth up to about $450 million, then the largest contract in sports history.
- 2023: Won Super Bowl LVII and his second NFL MVP.
- 2024: Won Super Bowl LVIII, making the Chiefs back-to-back champions.
- 2025: Lost Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles. In December, he tore his ACL against the Chargers and had surgery the next day.
- 2026: Was cleared to return from his knee injury, with Andy Reid naming him the starter for the Chiefs’ Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos in September.
Lionel Messi: Early Life and Education
Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. He started playing soccer as a small child. As a boy, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. At 13, he moved to Spain to join FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, after the club agreed to cover his treatment.
Career Timeline
- 2004: Made his first-team debut for Barcelona.
- 2009: Won his first Ballon d’Or.
- 2009 to 2015: Won four Champions League titles with Barcelona.
- 2012: Scored 91 goals in a calendar year, a record.
- 2021: Won the Copa América with Argentina, then left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain.
- 2022: Led Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar and was named the tournament’s best player.
- 2023: Joined Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and won his eighth Ballon d’Or.
- 2024: Won another Copa América with Argentina.
- 2026: Led Argentina to the World Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time on July 19.
How Their Careers Compare
| Category | Patrick Mahomes | Lionel Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback | Forward |
| Signature skill | No-look and sidearm passes | Dribbling and close control |
| Team titles | 3 Super Bowls | World Cup, Champions League, Copa América, many league titles |
| Individual awards | 2 MVPs, 3 Super Bowl MVPs | 8 Ballon d’Or awards |
| Career span | 2017 to present | 2004 to present |
| US connection | Part-owner of Sporting KC | Plays for Inter Miami |
What Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi Have in Common
- Creativity: Both make plays that look impossible.
- Winning: Both have led their teams to the biggest titles in their sports.
- Longevity: Messi has played at the top for more than 20 years. Mahomes has been elite since 2018.
- Respect: Mahomes openly admires Messi, calling him the GOAT.
- Ownership: Mahomes owns stakes in Sporting KC, the Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Current. Messi has invested in businesses and holds an ownership option with Inter Miami.
Soccer Comes to Kansas City
The April 2024 game showed how Messi’s arrival changed American soccer. Sporting KC moved the match to Arrowhead Stadium to fit the crowd. Mahomes’s role as a part-owner of the club helped tie the NFL and MLS worlds together that night. Kansas City also hosted matches during the 2026 World Cup, with Arrowhead serving as one of the host stadiums.
Where Are They Now?
Patrick Mahomes was cleared to return from his ACL injury for the start of the 2026 NFL season, about nine months after surgery.
Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami after the 2026 World Cup final. He hasn’t announced a decision about his future with Argentina’s national team.
Lessons From Their Careers
- Overcome obstacles. Messi overcame a growth disorder. Mahomes came back from a torn ACL.
- Stay creative. Both win by doing things others don’t try.
- Respect greatness. Mahomes’s praise for Messi shows humility.
- Keep growing. Both keep adding to their legacies years into their careers.
Two Sports, One Kansas City Story
Kansas City sits at the center of the Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi connection. The city is home to the Chiefs, Sporting KC, the Royals, and the Kansas City Current, and Mahomes holds ownership stakes in three of those teams.
The Current made history in 2024 when it opened CPKC Stadium, the first stadium built specifically for a women’s professional sports team. Mahomes’s wife, Brittany, is a co-owner of the club.
Messi’s April 2024 visit showed how big soccer has become in the city. Moving the match to Arrowhead Stadium allowed tens of thousands of fans to watch him play, and it gave Mahomes a chance to greet him on home turf. Two years later, Arrowhead hosted matches during the 2026 World Cup, bringing global soccer back to Kansas City.
For fans of Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi, Kansas City is where their worlds came together.
In Short
In short, Mahomes is still building his legacy in the NFL, while Messi is adding the final chapters to one of the greatest careers in sports history. Their brief meeting showed how greatness in one sport can inspire greatness in another. It also showed how much respect top athletes have for each other, even across very different games and very different parts of the world.
Final Thoughts
Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi play different games, but their brief meeting at Arrowhead showed the respect they share. Mahomes has turned the Chiefs into a dynasty with three Super Bowls. Messi has won nearly everything there is to win in soccer, including a World Cup. For fans of either sport, Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi represent the very best of modern athletic greatness.
Key Takeaways
- Patrick Mahomes was born September 17, 1995, in Tyler, Texas. Lionel Messi was born June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina.
- Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi met at Arrowhead Stadium on April 13, 2024, before Inter Miami played Sporting KC. Mahomes is a part-owner of Sporting KC.
- In February 2025, Mahomes called Messi “the G.O.A.T. of his profession.”
- Mahomes has won three Super Bowls and two NFL MVPs. He tore his ACL in December 2025 and was named the starter for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
- Messi has won eight Ballon d’Or awards, four Champions League titles, the 2022 World Cup, and two Copa Américas.
- Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain 1-0 in extra time on July 19.
- Both are known for creativity, winning, and staying at the top for years.
