Lionel Messi was in perfect position and received the perfect pass and unleashed the perfect shot. Soccer supporters have been spoiled by this type of highlight for two decades now, from the 17-year-old prodigy in Barcelona to the 37-year-old icon in Miami.
But last Saturday night, in the 34th minute, Messi’s one-touch shot didn’t score. Inexplicably — no, impossibly! — St. Louis City SC goalie Roman Burki exploded to his right and outstretched his right hand to make the save.
Charlie Silker of Ballwin wears Roman Burki’s gloves from a game at Inter Miami. Photo courtesy of the Silker family.
Then, in the 90th minute, with the score 3-3, Messi set up a teammate for the sure game-winner … but Burki’s right glove deflected the strike.
When the game ended as a draw, Burki shook Messi’s hand while still wearing his goalie gloves. Burki exchanged jerseys with the World Cup hero. And then … Burki walked over and gave the gloves to a kid from St. Louis.
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St. Louis City SC goalie Roman Burki shakes the hand of Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi after a 3-3 game in South Florida. Photo courtesy of the Silker family.
“They were very sweaty!” Charlie Silker said.
Charlie’s favorite athlete is Messi. He and his younger brother, Teddy, adore the dude. At their home in Ballwin, they have Messi jerseys from Barcelona, Argentina and even Paris Saint Germain, but not Inter Miami “because,” as explained by their father, Chad, “that always felt like that would be cheating on City.”
The Silkers love soccer. They often sit in the upper section at City SC games. And both Charlie and his sister, 13-year-old Nora, play goalie. So, you can imagine how much they admire Burki, the reigning goalkeeper of the year in Major League Soccer.
“He’s just, like, so good,” Charlie said. “Just amazing.”
For her 11th birthday, Nora’s gift was a trip with her parents — and without her siblings — on a Harry Potter-themed adventure at Universal Studios. Thus, for Charlie’s 11th birthday, Chad and Beth Silker offered him the same type of trip. Chad had mentioned a City SC road game, perhaps to Los Angeles.
“And he kind of sheepishly said, ‘Do you think we could go to Miami and see them play Messi?’” Chad recalled. “And I said, ‘Let me look into that,’ while thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is going to be so expensive!’”
But they indeed went to Florida. And went all out. Chad got front-row seats behind one of the goals. And near the St. Louis supporter section. And Charlie made a sign. It had the flag of Burki’s native Switzerland. And the sign read: “TODAY IS MY 11TH BIRTHDAY. BURKI, CAN I HAVE YOUR GLOVES?”
