The Auburn Tigers hosted a historic soccer event Tuesday night as defending World Cup champion Argentina faced Iceland in an international friendly before a sold-out crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Setting the record for highest attended soccer match in the history of the state of Alabama, it was already going to be a special night as the War Eagle flew and showed a group of soccer fans what college football in the South is all about.
A memorable evening became iconic though when Lionel Messi — a global icon who is arguably the greatest soccer player in the history of the game — was subbed on in the 70th minute and wound up putting the ball in the net to score on a penalty kick.
The GOAT doing GOAT things 🐐
#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/GqEUDv4lV2— Auburn Tigers (@AuburnTigers) June 10, 2026
POV: You walk off the field with Messi 🔥
What a night in front of 88,043 at Auburn 🍿 pic.twitter.com/8TBMlF35Tl
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 10, 2026
ELITE. #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/UV94F3c44c
— Auburn Tigers (@AuburnTigers) June 10, 2026
Argentina won the match 3-0 as Auburn fans went wild for Messi as he walked off the field to get ready for the team’s first World Cup game next week against Algeria, and while there is not going to be a game in the tournament at Jordan-Hare, the fans who were a part of that historic moment last night saw something they will never forget.
Auburn’s athletic department deserves a ton of credit for trying something new and having the foresight to host an event like this — one that clearly proved to be a massive success.
