Lionel Messi is coming to Mile High; here are the details

Both the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rapids announced on Thursday that the soccer club will host a game against Miami at Empower Field as part of a 30th anniversary celebration, which means superstar Lionel Messi is coming to the Mile High’s biggest stage.

The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 14, and Apple will broadcast the game.

Messi, who has won the last two MVPs and took home 2025’s Golden Boot, tallied two assists in the MLS Championship game a few weeks ago to bring a title to Miami. The legendary Argentine is 38 years old and may give one more World Cup a shot this summer, hosted in North America. He led his country to the title in 2022 while still playing for Paris Saint-Germain after his incredible career at Barcelona. After the event, he moved stateside, where he’s played for Miami the last three seasons.

Because Miami is in the East, the Rapids have only played Messi at his home stadium; this will be his first chance to do it on a cold April day at altitude.

For the Rapids, the match commemorates the club’s inaugural home contest at the original Mile High Stadium on April 21, 1996. A win where club legend Marcelo Balboa scored the first goal. The team eventually moved into the soccer-specific DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in 2007, but the Rapids played their home matches at the original Mile High Stadium from 1996-2001 and at Empower Field at Mile High from 2002-2006.

Since opening in 2001, Empower Field at Mile High has held over 15 major soccer matches, most recently hosting an international friendly between Mexico and Uruguay.

Three decades of Rapids history leads back to Empower Field at Mile High ⚽️🏟️

Learn more about our historic 30th Anniversary Match, presented by @uchealth 📰 » https://t.co/zb8eezVB0j#Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/DsPC3ojCLx

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) December 18, 2025

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