As Lionel Messi prepares to take the field Monday in Dallas for Argentina’s World Cup match against Austria, local fans are reflecting on the lasting impact of the soccer legend’s performance and what his continuing presence means for the region’s Argentine community.

Several North Texas residents traveled to Kansas City earlier this month to watch Argentina’s opening World Cup game, a contest many described as a “magical night” marked by Messi’s brilliance. Matías Sada, an Argentine immigrant living in Dallas, attended the match with his two American-born sons, 18-year-old Lucas and 15-year-old Bruno. Although they were seated in different parts of the stadium due to ticket availability, the family remained connected via WhatsApp, sharing real-time reactions to Messi’s goals and the unfolding drama on the pitch.

“This is the greatest pride I’ve ever felt in my life,” Lucas wrote after Messi’s first goal, while Bruno declared after the match, “I could die today,” reflecting the deep emotional bond the experience fostered among the trio. Sada described witnessing Messi’s performance as a unifying moment that would forever link them, emphasizing the importance of savoring what could be the final World Cup for the Argentine star.

“Messi had an incredible era, but I think Argentina can still go far in this World Cup because it has a great group of players who stay united no matter what,” Sada said. He also highlighted Messi’s reputation off the field, noting the player’s consistent behavior and commitment to family values as central to his admiration among Argentine fans.

Another Dallas-area supporter, Martín Pereyra, brought his two young daughters, 11-year-old Libertad and 7-year-old Andina, to the Kansas City match to expose them to the passion Argentine soccer inspires. Pereyra, who owns Gelato La Boca in Snider Plaza, pointed to the unique connection this Argentine team has forged with fans, one he described as more profound than in previous eras.

For Pereyra, Messi’s legacy is already secure despite past criticism over the absence of a World Cup title, a blemish many believed was necessary to cement his status as the sport’s greatest. Monday’s match, following Argentina’s victory over Saudi Arabia, will mark a step in the defending champions’ bid to retain their title from four years ago. Yet Pereyra stressed Messi should not bear the burden of national expectations alone.

“Messi has nothing left to prove. He’s already given us everything,” Pereyra said. He also noted that, despite his lifelong devotion to Boca Juniors and experience attending matches at Buenos Aires’ iconic La Bombonera, the atmosphere in Kansas City eclipsed even those intense moments. The stadium was awash in Argentine flags and the sound of drums, building to euphoric celebrations after each of Messi’s goals. At one point, Pereyra’s youngest daughter whispered to him, “Is this a dream?”

As the Argentine team returns to North Texas for their next fixture, fans like Sada and Pereyra hope to witness more moments of magic from Messi, moments that transcend sport and unite communities far from their homeland.