July 6, 2025
The arrival of Lionel Messi once again has Montreal in a tizzy
There’s no doubt that when the dust settles, Lionel Messi will be considered among the greats of the game of soccer. And to many, as was once again evident across Montreal today, he already is.
The eight-time Ballon d’or winner was welcomed to the city as Montrealer’s swarmed to the airport to great him as he landed in Dorval, then serenaded him outside his hotel and showed up hours early for a chance to see him arriving at Stade Saputo ahead of Inter Miami’s clash with CF Montreal.
See Also: Lionel Messi shines as Inter Miami defeat CF Montreal at home
This is what it must have been like when The Beatles first came to Canada way back in 1964.
All around Stade Saputo, pink Inter Milan jerseys could be found – and if they didn’t over populate the blue shirts of CF Montreal, they were at least equal. Argentinian flags fluttered in the Montreal breeze, and on top of the pink, a collection of shirts representing the teams Messi has played for in the past could be spotted.
Once the match had began, the sold put crowd at Stade Saputo chanted Messi Messi Messi for the entire goal, roaring in unison each and every time the Argentinian superstar so much as looked at the ball.
And Messi didn’t disappoint his flock, scoring twice as his Inter Miami squad defeated CF Montreal by a score of four to one.
Moreover, Messi’s mere presence in the MLS has brought so much attention to the league and all of the teams within it, as similar waves of fanatics swarm him wherever he goes. Ticket sales and jersey sales follow him and all of this only helps the league grow.
At 38 years of age, Lionel Messi is still one of the greatest draws in North American sports and just being here will more than likely encourage a whole generation of kids to join the sport, and Canada and America slowly catch up on what the rest of the world has been calling the beautiful game since seemingly the dawn of time.
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Two things came to mind while witnessing all of this; Messi is without doubt one of the most iconic athletes in sport, period – and Montreal is starving for a superstar of its own to roam the pitch at Stade Saputo.
Montreal needs its next Didier Drogba.
