The Browns are playing host to the world’s most famous “footballer”.
Lionel MessiThe forward, named MLS’s MVP in his first season with Inter Miami CF, is expected to play against the Columbus Crew on April 19 at Huntington Bank Field, the Browns’ 67,000-seat stadium in Cleveland.
The Miami-Columbus matchup will be the first MLS regular season game played in Cleveland, which has previously hosted games for the United States men’s and women’s teams.
Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam also own the Crew and saw the opportunity to hold games in Cleveland as an opportunity to broaden their fan base.
“At Huntington Bank Field, we can welcome significantly more Crew fans, and it gives us an opportunity to connect with new fans in Northeast Ohio,” said John Glessing, head of strategy and development for Haslam Sports Group.
Messi was named MVP this season, despite missing 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular season matches due to injuries or obligations to the Argentina national team. He scored 20 goals and assisted 16.
Miami won the Supporters’ Shield as the team with the best total points in the regular season – setting a new MLS record in the process – but were surprisingly eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by Atlanta United FC.