Fire sellout for Lionel Messi shows Chicago’s potential

CHICAGO – It’s not often that soccer in Chicago makes news or draws any kind of buzz in April. Legendary Argentine captain Lionel Messi is different, though. Chicago is a city obsessed with sports, but those sports are just not futbol. At least that’s not the case now or yet.

Nonetheless, Chicago’s potential as a top Major League Soccer city was on display Sunday night. The Fire drew a sellout crowd of  62,358 for a scoreless draw against Messi’s Inter Miami.

By mid-April Chicago has already welcomed back the Cubs and White Sox. In past years the United Center would be preparing to host NBA or NHL playoffs or both at this time. Sunday afternoon on the lakefront we had the much-anticipated return of Lionel Messi for the first time with his club Inter Miami FC.

And it’s clear that Chicago is and can be a top MLS soccer city, but it’s just not now. Born and raised in Chicago I’m biased. Like it or not, though, we’re a city of sports superstars.

Fire has had ‘Lionel Messi’ types

They are part of Mt. Rushmore of our local celebrities. We witnessed Michael Jordan, the ultimate international superstar who changed world sports since the great Pele in the 1970s.

In my lifetime Chicago had Walter Payton, Brian Urlacher and Sammy Sosa. At one point those stars captivated the country. Sosa essentially saved baseball. Truth be told, we are used to great players and in fact we demand them because we consider ourselves coastal like New York and Los Angeles even if we are very Midwestern.

The Chicago Fire haven’t had anything close to a superstar since German World Cup champion Bastian Schweinsteiger led them to the playoffs.

For a couple years Mexican superstar Cuauhtémoc Blanco played in front of packed crowds in the Fire’s former home in the suburbs. Fire coach Greg Berhalter, the former U.S. men’s national team coach, was clearly pleased with a strong draw against a great offense. A great atmosphere spoke on the importance of the product on the field.

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“I think it shows the potential of this city,” Fire coach Gregg Berhalter said. “And we all know Chicago is a soccer city. And it’s really up to us to put a product on the field that they want to come and enjoy.” 

Winning is important. It definitely makes a difference because American’s love winners, but we also love stardom. Heck, Hollywood and our culture are our biggest exports to the world. Chicago is the third largest market in the U.S. 

It’s a city that deserves star players. Lionel Messi is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. There will only ever be one, but a superstar nonetheless that gives people a reason to be merely interested or make their way to watch soccer on a weekend.

Chicago deserves greatness

Chicago isn’t likely to ever get a soccer star like Lionel Messi, but we had a star German World Cup champion and a Mexican superstar. Blanco loved it here so much he still comes back to take in ball games at Wrigley Field. 

It’s possible. A great city deserves great players. While the roster has what it takes to go back to the MLS Playoffs. The Fire are playing well, but it doesn’t have the star power necessary for the Fire to breakthrough in Chicago’s ultra-competitive sports landscape. 

Nonetheless, it’s important to feel good about a sellout and note it’s an exciting time for the franchise. The new Endeavor Health Performance Center on the near west side is an investment in the city and the team’s future.

The possible announcement of a soccer-specific stadium that owner Joe Masueto has all but confirmed should give international stars many more reasons to want to come to the city of skyscrapers. It also helps to have a leader like Berhalter, who is committed to what is most important and that is winning. 

“I think it’s about us trying to build a winner for the city of Chicago,” Berhalter said. “And if we start winning games, we’re pretty confident that people will come back.”