Jordan-Hare Stadium has seen a lot. Iron Bowl classics. National title runs. Tuesday night added something completely different to that list.

Argentina came to Auburn to face Iceland in a World Cup warm-up on June 9. The place sold out, and all 88,043 seats were full.

That crowd made it the largest soccer match ever played in Alabama. The previous record was Argentina vs the United States at the 1996 Olympics in Birmingham.

It was Jordan-Hare's first-ever soccer game. The fixture was announced on April 9. Rain and flood warnings rolled in during the day. But the weather cleared right before kickoff.

Messi last played on May 24. A hamstring strain and muscle fatigue from his Inter Miami schedule kept him out. The crowd chanted his name every time he appeared on the videoboard.

Coach Lionel Scaloni sent Messi on in the 70th minute to a deafening ovation. Moments later, Messi threaded a pass to Lautaro Martínez, who drew a penalty. Messi stepped up, stutter-stepped to freeze the keeper, and converted the spot-kick. Jordan-Hare completely lost its mind.

Valentín Barco had already opened the scoring in the 8th minute. Argentina went on to win 3-0. In the mixed zone after the game, Messi reflected on what Argentina keeps chasing as defending champions.

"We, as Argentinians, always keep the same hope, the same desire to be able to keep achieving big things like the ones we've already achieved," Messi said.

Argentina's title defense begins on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City. This was their last warm-up before the tournament.

How the Auburn Football Program Embraced the Moment

Head coach Alex Golesh and quarterback Byrum Brown were both in the stands to watch Argentina play on the same field where they will coach and play football this fall.

Golesh posted a photo on X. Two words. "War Eagle."

The Auburn Plainsman noted something worth remembering. Messi's penalty kick came from almost the same spot where Chris Davis started his famous kick-six return against Alabama in 2013.

One stadium. Two moments people will never forget.

Do you think Jordan-Hare should host more international soccer events in the future? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore