The electric atmosphere at Stade Saputo was palpable, but the usual blue, black, and white colors of CF Montreal were overshadowed by a sea of pink and Argentina blue. On Saturday night, Montreal’s soccer cathedral transformed into a shrine for one man: Lionel Messi, the global icon whose presence turned lifelong fans into giddy admirers. For diehard CF Montreal supporter Pierre-Paul Foisy, the choice was clear. Ditching his team’s colors, he donned a vibrant pink tracksuit and a goat mask—proclaiming Messi the “Greatest Of All Time”—as Inter Miami faced off against the home side.
“Messi is a worldwide phenomenon,” Foisy declared, standing proudly beside his son, Jeremy. “His skill with the ball, his vision—it’s unreal. I’m a CF Montreal fan through and through, but when someone of Messi’s caliber comes to town, you can’t help but be swept away.”
Widely celebrated as soccer’s ultimate maestro, Messi boasts eight Ballon d’Or titles and a 2022 World Cup triumph with Argentina. His arrival in Montreal sparked a frenzy, with hundreds of fans mobbing a downtown hotel on Friday night just to catch a glimpse of the legend. By Saturday, hours before kickoff, throngs of supporters lined the streets outside Stade Saputo, waving signs and chanting Messi’s name, their excitement barely contained by extra security, police, and barricades.
As Messi stepped off the team bus, waving briefly to the roaring crowd, fans like Kamar Assaf could hardly believe their eyes. Wearing an Inter Miami jersey, Assaf, who drove from Toronto with her Cristiano Ronaldo-fan partner, called the moment a “dream come true.” Having waited anxiously to confirm Messi’s participation after Inter Miami’s recent Club World Cup exit, she was among the lucky ones witnessing her idol’s fourth Canadian appearance—and second in Montreal.
For 15-year-old Julien Massri, with Argentina’s flag painted on his cheeks, Messi was more than a player. “He’s why I fell in love with soccer,” Massri said, his eyes sparkling. “His dribbles, his shots, his flair, his intelligence on the pitch—it’s all so special. He’s my hero.”
The Messi mania wasn’t new to Montreal. When the 38-year-old first played at Stade Saputo in May 2024, he left the field scoreless but helped Inter Miami secure a 3-2 victory. That night, Foisy’s goat mask went viral, a testament to the city’s growing obsession with the Argentine star. CF Montreal, riding the Messi wave since his 2023 move to MLS, sold out its 15,000 season tickets last year for the first time since joining the league in 2012. While this season’s numbers remain undisclosed, Saturday’s crowd made one thing clear: many were there for Messi, not Montreal.
Yet not everyone was thrilled with the invasion of pink. Tony Martino, a leader of the “1642 MTL” supporters’ group, stood firm at their tailgate on the opposite side of the stadium. “Messi’s probably the greatest ever, I get it,” he admitted. “But this is Montreal. We’re here for CF Montreal, not him.” Determined to hold their ground, Martino vowed to wave the club’s flags higher and chant louder, even if outnumbered. “If someone behind me says, ‘Move your flag, I want to see Messi,’” he quipped, “they’re out of luck.”
As Stade Saputo buzzed with anticipation, the clash wasn’t just on the pitch—it was in the stands, where loyalty to club met the irresistible allure of a soccer god. For one night, Messi wasn’t just a player; he was the phenomenon that turned a city’s heart pink.