A massive crowd received exactly what they had hoped for as Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was named in the starting line-up for Inter Miami CF on Thursday evening in their CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final first leg against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Messi was joined on the pitch by a host of familiar faces, including Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez, and Spanish defender Jordi Alba, as Inter Miami fielded a star-studded eleven.

An enthusiastic crowd of approximately 53,000 filled BC Place Stadium—marking the largest attendance of the Whitecaps’ Major League Soccer era and the third largest in the club’s history—erupting in cheers at the sound of the opening whistle.

Many supporters were particularly thrilled to see Messi in action, especially after his absence from last year’s regular-season MLS fixture against Vancouver, which had disappointed a number of fans.

Prior to kick-off, fans—many donning Messi jerseys—gathered to cheer, take photos, and soak in the pre-match atmosphere with the pitch as their backdrop.

The second leg of the tie is scheduled for Wednesday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

The winner of the two-legged affair will progress to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, where they will face either Cruz Azul or Tigres UANL on 1st June.