VancouverWhitecapsunfazed by Messi spotlight ahead of semifinal clash with Miami [Video]

The home team might not be the main attraction for what is expected to be a capacity crowd when the Vancouver Whitecaps face Inter Miami FC Thursday night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal.

A crowd of over 52,000 is expected for the match with many of the fans coming to B.C. Place Stadium excited about the prospect of seeing soccer legend Lionel Messi play in Vancouver.

Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen shrugged off his team taking second billing in its own building.

“Lionel Messi for the past 20 years has been maybe the best player all time in this sport, and he deserves the praise he gets,” Sorensen said after training Thursday. “I also would say tomorrow it’s not going to be Vancouver Whitecaps against Lionel Messi. It’s going to be Miami against Vancouver.”

Messi disappointed many fans when he didn’t travel to Vancouver last …