Lionel Messi‘s Inter Miami faced Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal in a sold-out Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Monday, as the friendly affair provided the eight-time Ballon d’Or with a stark reminder that he plays in America just a week after facing F.C. Dallas in a nearly empty Cotton Bowl Stadium.

The 36-year-old Argentine and his Miami teammates are in the Middle East until at least Thursday, when the Herons play Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Hilal.

But, in contrast to the regular sighting of low crowds at MLS games, fans of Messi made sure to let their presence be known on Monday, as the 40,000-seater Kingdom Arena was packed.

Messi even got the crowd roaring at one point, as they thought he had scored a goal in the 38th minute, only for the officials to rule it out for offside.

The preseason meeting between Miami and Dallas in Texas, on the other hand, drew as many as 32,211 spectators. That’s not much, considering that the Cotton Bowl can hold up to 92,100 people.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami played in a sold-out Kingdom Arena against Al Hilal on Monday.

The whole stadium chanting his name! Messi Messi Messi Messi! 🐐🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/EVI5AWKmNO

— mave | Leo Messi 🐐👑 (@mapisssh) January 29, 2024

Miami’s friendly affair in the Middle East is a stark contrast to the team’s pre-season loss to F.C. Dallas at the Cotton Bowl last week.

Although the crowd – and lack thereof – was hampered by awful rainy weather, it has led to questions over why MLS decided to schedule the game at 6pm on a Monday evening in January.

What’s more is that Dallas is also set to host the 2026 World Cup final at the AT&T Stadium – home of NFL’s Cowboys – but last Monday’s friendly was a worrying dress rehearsal two years out from the main event.

It therefore came as a huge shock to see so few fans in attendance in Dallas while many showed up in Saudi Arabia, as it could speak volumes of soccer’s landscape in both countries, despite Messi’s status as the greatest player of all time.

Messi was roared by the sold-out crowd in Riyadh as fans thought he had scored a goal, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

Messi and his Miami teammates emerging at kickoff at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas last Monday.

After traveling to Saudi Arabia, Inter Miami will continue to clock up the miles to play in two more money-spinning games.

While on the other side of the world, they will face Hong Kong XI on February 4, before taking on Andres Iniesta and Vissel Kobe, three days later. Inter Miami will then take on Messi’s former team Newell’s Old Boys at home on February 15.

The Herons trail against Al Hilal at halftime, 3-1, despite Luis Suarez scoring his first goal for the club since signing with Miami in December.

Neymar was ruled out of the contest due to an ACL tear sustained in October. He isn’t expected to return to action before August.