Owen Wilson likens Lionel Messi mania to Pelé's shocking arrival to US in 1975: 'Maybe even bigger'

Owen Wilson speaks to Fox News Digital about Lionel Messi's impact on Major League Soccer.

Lionel Messi fever took over Los Angeles Sunday night, as Inter Miami CF’s latest match on the soccer pitch came against LAFC. 

LAFC already has great turnouts to their matches (11th in MLS with 22,102 fans attendees averaged), but BMO Stadium was packed to the brim with Messi and Inter Miami CF bringing arguably the biggest sports spectacle in the U.S. to the City of Angels. 

Actor and LAFC fan Owen Wilson loves how exhilarating Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer has been, which is why he was among the many stars who showed out to watch him in action. It reminds Wilson of another global soccer star who made the jump to the United States to continue his illustrious soccer career. 

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Lionel Messi, #10 of Inter Miami CF, waves to the fans after a draw during a match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on Aug. 30, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

"I remember as a kid it was such a huge deal when Pelé played for the [New York] Cosmos, and it feels like that again with Messi except maybe even bigger," Wilson told Fox News Digital. 

Much like Messi did when he signed his contract with Inter Miami CF, Pelé shocked the entire world when he decided to play for the New York Cosmos on a three-year, $7 million deal in the old North American Soccer League in 1975.

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Pelé's arrival led the Cosmos to move their games from a small Randall’s Island stadium to Giants Stadium because of how many fans wanted to see him in person. The Cosmos eventually set a North American