Argentina’s national football team has arrived in Kansas City ahead of their opening World Cup match against Algeria, as excitement builds around the squad’s star player, Lionel Messi. The team is staying at the Origin Hotel, located on the banks of the Missouri River, where fans have gathered to catch a glimpse of Messi, whose likeness features prominently on a giant exterior poster wrapping the building.

Inside the hotel, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has redecorated the walls with murals of Messi, head coach Lionel Scaloni, and other key players. A motivational poster bearing the phrase “todos juntos” (“everyone together”) has been placed in each bedroom. Most players share rooms, though Messi is accommodated alone.

Messi’s popularity extends well beyond Kansas City. Earlier in the U.S. soccer season, teams including LA FC and DC United moved some home matches to larger stadiums to meet ticket demand, betting on the draw of the Argentine captain. Demand for Argentina’s World Cup games has been exceptionally strong. All three group stage matches—against Algeria in Kansas City and against Austria and Jordan in Dallas—sold out faster than tickets for any other team. Resale prices for the first game reportedly have reached upward of £3,000.

Commercially, Messi is expected to generate significant income during the tournament. His image appears on advertisements for Michelob Ultra, the official beer sponsor of the World Cup in the United States. At Argentina’s training base, the Compass Minerals Center, media interest has been intense, with around 200 reporters attending a brief 15-minute session on Thursday. When Messi emerged from the dressing room, dozens of cameras focused on him, with multiple live broadcasts capturing his every move.

Messi arrives at this World Cup with a storied history, having played in a record 26 tournament matches across multiple editions. His career has included both setbacks and triumphs: a loss in the 2014 final against Germany, a shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia, and missed penalties. Yet these moments are often overshadowed by the joy experienced by millions of Argentine supporters after the 2022 victory over France in a penalty shootout in Lusail Stadium.

Diego Maradona, a legend of Argentine football and former captain, reflected on Messi’s legacy, noting that had modern technology been available during his own era, Maradona’s achievements might have received even broader recognition. “Messi is an example of life,” Maradona said. “If he wins the World Cup again, no one can say he doesn’t deserve to be known as the greatest of all time.”