Fans eagerly awaited in front of the Oro Verde Hotel in Guayaquil, where Argentine football star Lionel Messi is staying with the Inter Miami team. Despite light rain, they gathered early in hopes of catching a glimpse of Messi or other team members before the highly-anticipated match against Barcelona Sporting Club, dubbed the 'Match of History.'

In preparation for the match, which is scheduled for 7 PM, fans donned inter Miami's pink jerseys and Argentina's national colors, while waving homemade signs, eager for an autograph or a selfie with the football icon. The atmosphere was electric as supporters formed groups by the fences, all eyes and cameras focused on the hotel entrance, ready to react to any movement of the players.

Security measures were notably tight, with metal barriers lining the sidewalks and a noticeable presence of police and military personnel. This heightened security reflected both the excitement surrounding Messi's presence as well as the need to manage the crowd of hopeful fans. Whenever a vehicle entered or exited the hotel, cheers erupted from the fans, showing the immense popularity of Messi and the fervor of his followers in Ecuador.