Ex-PC standout Gressel enjoys sharing the soccer pitch with superstar Messi
FOXBORO — Julian Gressel had already spent a healthy chunk of his game check before a ball was kicked Saturday night.
Connections from throughout his life — family members, friends, Providence College staff members and former teammates — were all in search of tickets. Inter Miami visited the New England Revolution, and a certain fellow member of the starting lineup created what turned out to be a record demand at the Gillette Stadium box office.
Lionel Messi scored a pair of goals and assisted on a third as Inter Miami eased past New England, 4-1. His first full season in MLS has been met with unprecedented interest, and 65,612 fans filled the seats in a manner usually reserved for when the New England Patriots take this same field on fall Sundays.
“Too many,” Gressel joked when asked about his personal ticket requests. “It was quite expensive, put it that way.”
Gressel’s wife, Casey, and his former college coach, Craig Stewart, were among those on his pass list. He played the opening 74 minutes on the right side of the Inter Miami midfield before being replaced. Benjamin Cremaschi netted the third goal for the visitors and Matias Rojas helped set it up with a cross off the left — they came on for Gressel and striker Robert Taylor to offer fresh legs in a tactical double change.
Julian Gressel postgame in the Inter Miami FC mix zone. @PCFriarsMSoccer alum had a host of friends, family and program connections in the crowd tonight. @pcathpic.twitter.com/hUSjKWGtqU
— Bill Koch (@BillKoch25) April 28, 2024
“Boston has a special place in my heart,” Gressel said. “Providence has a special place in my heart. My wife is from here. We come here all the time when we have days off.”
Gressel was recruited away from a German club team to join the Friars for the 2013 season. He helped Providence reach the NCAAs twice, including the national semifinals in 2016. The Friars upset top seed Maryland in part thanks to a midfielder who was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy — that goes to the top player in college soccer.
“In college, I would have been happy with a really good career, and I’m living that,” Gressel said. “I’m kind of taking steps at a time and trying to work hard and just giving myself more and more opportunities.”
Gressel has won two MLS Cups — one with Atlanta United, one with the Columbus Crew — and a U.S. Open Cup. He was the MLS Rookie of the Year in 2017 and is currently with his fifth club in the league. He signed a three-year deal with Inter Miami in January and holds an option for the 2027 season.
“I think it’s a matter of work ethic, commitment, listening — being open to coaching from a lot of different angles,” Gressel said. “Being a good guy who does the work. I certainly try to do that and try to continue on this path.”
Gressel was a youth player in his native Neustadt when Messi debuted for FC Barcelona in November 2003. The introduction of a future all-time great helped lead the club to four Champions League titles between 2005-06 and 2014-15. Gressel was with two German clubs for those first three crowns and a junior at Providence when Barcelona beat Italian giants Juventus, 3-1, in that last final in Berlin.
“Leo is Leo,” Gressel said. “He does the things he’s done his whole career.”
Gressel has started in all 11 of his appearances this season, and Inter Miami ended the evening atop the Eastern Conference standings. His five assists put him one shy of his total throughout all of 2023 with Columbus and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Gressel is a close witness to something special on a nightly basis — this strong performance was just the latest while sharing a pitch with a player he used to admire from afar.
“It’s special to see so many people come out and support us and the Revs as well and see how far [Messi’s] reach is,” Gressel said. “This is a soccer-loving community, I feel like.”
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Former Friar enjoys sharing the soccer pitch with superstar Messi
