As Patrick Mahomes aims to match Tom Brady’s legacy as the greatest player in NFL history, another sports legend might be seen at the upcoming Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Lionel Messi expressed his desire to attend the Super Bowl, although it’s still uncertain if he can make it, according to a source close to the Inter Miami star and World Cup-winning Argentine, speaking to YSL News Sports on Tuesday evening.

Messi faces a scheduling challenge, as he is slated to compete in an Inter Miami preseason match in Honduras at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night. The team usually returns home right after away games. The journey from Honduras to South Florida takes over two hours, which is about the same travel time from South Florida to New Orleans.

Mahomes, the talented quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, was inquired about Messi possibly being at the Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles. His response was shared on social media by MundoNFL, a Spanish-language NFL platform.

“[Messi is] the greatest of all time in his field. Having someone like him at the game would be amazing. It gives me a chance to showcase my skills too,” Mahomes stated.

“I remember watching him play in Kansas City last year. He scored two goals that match. You can really see his greatness, and the talent he shows every day. He’s someone I look up to and aspire to reach his level one day.”

Messi and Mahomes had a brief encounter last year when Messi scored a goal with an assist (so a total of two goals) during Inter Miami’s victory over Sporting Kansas City, 3-2, at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs, on April 13, 2024. The game attracted a reported attendance of 72,610, making it the most attended soccer match in Missouri and the third-most attended MLS match ever. Messi’s Inter Miami is set to face Sporting KC again in a Concacaf Champions Cup match on February 18.

Additionally, Messi starred in one of last year’s most popular Super Bowl commercials for Michelob Ultra, featuring legendary Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino.

Messi, the current MLS MVP and an eight-time recipient of the Ballon d’Or award for being the best player in the sport, is widely recognized as one of the all-time greats in soccer. He is also the most famous athlete in the United States, boasting over 500 million Instagram followers.