Known as one of the greatest soccer players in the history of the game, the man often known simply as Messi (first name Lionel, for those wondering) is slated to play against the Vancouver Whitecaps next spring. 

The Argentina superstar will head to the West Coast with his new team, Inter Miami CF, on May 25, 2024 in a game scheduled for BC Place. 

An eight-time Ballon d’Or (an award given to the best player in the world) winner, Messi has been a star from the second he first stepped onto the pitch at age six. Major triumphs have included a World Cup win with Argentina in 2022, the most storied part of a truly storied career being his long tenure with FC Barcelona, with whom he won the UEFA Champions League four times. 

After a two-year stint with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi signed with Inter Miami CF earlier this year, the two-and-a-half season contract paying him somewhere between $50 million and $60 million annually. That price tag reflects the fact that, to many, he’s still regarded as the biggest draw in the game. 

The Vancouver Whitecaps released their 2024 Major League Soccer schedule this week, with other highlights including March 2 home-opener against Charlotte FC, and an April 6 match against Toronto FC.

For the full schedule and tickets for the Whitecaps’ 50th anniversary season, go here.