Messi fans fill Stade Saputo as Inter Miami visits Montreal: ‘Messi is worldwide'
The Lionel Messi superfan, however, has no problem shedding Montreal's colours when his hero is in town.
Instead of sporting blue, black and white, Foisy wore a pink tracksuit and a goat mask — for 'Greatest Of All Time' — as Messi's Inter Miami took on CF Montreal on Saturday night.
'Messi is worldwide,' said Foisy, standing next to his son, Jeremy. 'The level of player he is and what he can do with the ball, it's incredible.
'I'm a CF Montreal fan deep down, for sure. But when you have someone of that magnitude, you can't be disappointed about people switching sides.'
Widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Messi is an eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient as global player of the year and a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022.
Hundreds of fans swarmed a downtown Montreal hotel to catch a glimpse of the global icon after he landed in Montreal on Friday night.
Many more, including Foisy, held signs and lined the streets in Miami pink and Argentina blue outside Stade Saputo hours before kickoff to watch Messi walk off the team bus.
A heightened police presence, extra security and numerous additional fences surrounded the stadium grounds to handle the circus.
Messi waved to a large group of fans yelling his name through a fence from a distance before entering the building.
'Oh my God, I can't believe it,' said fan Kamar Assaf, wearing an Inter Miami jersey. 'It's my dream since I was a little kid.'
Assaf drove from Toronto with her partner, a Cristiano Ronaldo superfan, to see her idol live for the first time.
They waited until Miami dropped out of the Club World Cup in the round of 16 last Sunday with a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Had Miami won, the MLS match would have been postponed.
There was also concern Messi wouldn't travel because of a heavy schedule of games, but Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano dismissed the idea of leaving his superstar in Florida.
This marks Messi's fourth match on Canadian soil, and second in Montreal.
The 38-year-old played his first professional game in Canada on May 11, 2024, when he was held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 Miami win over Montreal.
Foisy, who bought season tickets last season, went viral on social media that night for wearing his goat mask.
On the heels of Messi's move from Europe to Miami in 2023, CF Montreal sold out its 15,000 season tickets last year for the first time since the club joined MLS in 2012. The club did not reveal how many it sold this season.
Many spectators on Saturday only attended for one thing.
'I came only to see the CF Montreal games for Messi,' said 15-year-old fan Julien Massri, with the Argentine flag painted on each cheek. 'He's the one that made me like playing soccer, so he's a really special person for me.
'Everything about him — his dribbles, his shots, his flair, his skills … his intelligence on the pitch and his leadership is something special for me.'
Some dyed-in-the-wool CF Montreal fans, however, weren't so pleased about the Messi fans invading Stade Saputo in large numbers.
Tony Martino, a leading member of the '1642 MTL' supporters' group, said he understood why people cheered for Messi, who's 'probably the greatest soccer player of all time,' but added he wouldn't follow suit.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
'It's not a surprise,' he said at the supporters' group's tailgate, held on the opposite side of the stadium from where people gathered to greet Messi. 'That being said, we're in Montreal, we are not here for Messi.
'It is a little annoying in a way, kind of, to see people overtaking the stadium, but I'm here for one team.'
Martino said he planned to chant a little louder than usual in the supporters' section, knowing CF Montreal fans could be outnumbered.
'We'll make sure that the flags will be flying,' he said. 'If Messi is in our area and somebody behind me tells me, 'Hey move your flag, I want to see Messi,' you won't see Messi.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘There's more pressure for them'
Do you believe in miracles? Valour FC better, because that's what it's going to take to escape BC Place Wednesday night with a win over Major League Soccer's Vancouver Whitecaps in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Championship. It all comes down to this match — which kicks off at 9 p.m. CT — as the two sides settled for a 2-2 draw when they met in the first leg back in Winnipeg on May 20. 'It would be a miracle, and that's the truth,' admitted Valour head coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos on Monday. 'But we've seen it. It's football, it's pro sports. These things could happen.' In their first meeting, Vancouver fielded a starting 11 of mostly backups, but with this showdown taking place in their own building, they're expected to roll with a roster that closer resemblances the one that has them in second place in the MLS Western Conference standings at 11-4-5. The Canadian Championship features pro and semi-pro teams across the country battling for the Voyageurs Cup and the right to represent the nation at the CONCACAF Champions Cup. 'It's the Cup, anything is possible, and for me, that's what I believe. That's always kind of the mentality in England is anything can happen in Cup (tournaments),' said Valour midfielder Kian Williams, who hails from Leicester. 'I feel like there's no pressure. There's more pressure for them… I'm just looking forward to it, to be honest.' The last time Valour hit the road to play the Whitecaps was in the preliminary round of the 2022 Canadian Championship where they fell 2-0. In last year's Canadian Championship, Forge FC made the CPL proud by knocking out MLS' CF Montreal in the quarters. 'It's gonna take a lot, and I think we know that. I know for me, I'm willing to give everything and for sure all the boys are,' said Williams. 'As soon as you go to a team like the Whitecaps, you know it's going to be a tough game. You've got to be switched on for the full 90 minutes and you've got to give everything you can… I think you just go in there and just execute everything we've worked hard on this week, and I believe we can do that.' While the Whitecaps are dominating the MLS, Valour is crumbling in the Canadian Premier League. Winnipeg's professional soccer club has lost three straight and has been outscored 11-1 during that stretch. Their most recent defeat was a 3-1 loss on Canada Day against the HFX Wanderers. Valour has eight points in 12 league tilts, which has them in seventh place in the eight-team circuit with a 2-8-2 record. 'We need to find a way to turn things around. For me, the first thing is the guys can't quit. It's going to be about the mentality of the guys, the locker room, and that in challenges we stay together,' said Dos Santos. 'And you know, what a game. What a game when you think about it… If you would've asked me (if) this could be the game that turns the season around, or which game you want to play to turn a season around, I would tell you that this is the best one.' The Whitecaps have won the Canadian Championship three years in a row. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. They're a franchise Dos Santos knows very well as he was an assistant with them from 2018-21 under his brother Marc Dos Santos. The two were let go on Aug. 27, 2021, shortly after the Whitecaps were upset by the CPL's Pacific FC in the Canadian Championship. Vancouver was in last place in the Western Conference at the time. 'Yes, football wise, there were challenges. There were a lot of struggles with the early days of the foundation that they built today. But at the end of the day, you were part of an organization that is now, how can I say, collecting the fruits of hard work and the struggles that they had to go through,' said Dos Santos. 'I keep an eye on them and have a lot of friends there still… There's a lot of people in that organization that I still care for and that I still love so, yeah, it's always good to get to play them.' Valour will head to Toronto for their next CPL outing when they square off against York United (4-6-3) on Sunday. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
FIFA 2026 impacts to shutter Lower Mainland courts for nearly a month
When the biggest event in world soccer touches down in Vancouver next year, it will also create a big headache for the province's court system. The chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court is warning that the FIFA 2026 World Cup will have 'very significant impacts' on court operations. 'The important priorities of public safety and traffic and crowd management during the event will draw heavily on police resources in the Lower Mainland and potentially elsewhere in the province,' Justice Ron Skolrood wrote in a recent notice. 4:06 Cost to host 2026 FIFA World Cup keeps going up 'For similar reasons, the BC Sheriff Service may have difficulty providing its usual level of support for court operations, including for the transport to court of accused persons in custody, for jury management, and for courthouse security.' Story continues below advertisement Skolrood added that anticipated traffic disruptions, the unavailability of hotel rooms for witnesses and deliberating juries and uncertain availability of police officers are also expected to affect the courts. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy As a result, the Vancouver, New Westminster, Abbotsford and Chilliwack law courts will be virtually shut down between June 12 and July 8, 2026. 'The Court is committed to ensuring that the Court maintains sufficient capacity to handle urgent matters and emergency hearings during the events and to protecting the safety and security of court participants, court proceedings and courthouses,' the chief justice said. All criminal trials by either judge or jury set for that period will need to be rescheduled, as will any jury selections. Civil jury trials scheduled during the FIFA period will also need to be postponed. 2:08 Provincial, municipal and First Nations governments sign FIFA memorandum of understanding The court will continue to schedule chambers applications during the period, but Skolrood said they could still see disruptions. Story continues below advertisement B.C. Premier David Eby said the World Cup will be the 'largest sporting event ever in the history of our province, and that as during the 2010 Olympics, British Columbians will need to put up with some disruptions. However, he said the province would work with the courts to ensure people's right to a trial is not unduly affected. 'This can be a very sensitive area for disruption; people have a right to a trial in a certain, fixed amount of time — we have to hit those targets. In fact, we are best in Canada for hitting those targets,' Eby said. 'But we have more work to do to ensure every single trial gets to court on time, and we will work with the court to make sure we address any concerns they may have.' Vancouver is scheduled to host seven games during the tournament, starting on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Angel Di María makes emotional return to Rosario Central after 18 years in Europe
ROSARIO, Argentina (AP) — A teary-eyed Angel Di María was introduced as the latest signing by Rosario Central on Monday, 18 years after he left his boyhood club. Di María, who helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, always wanted to return to Rosario, but he received death threats from drug dealer gangs. Located 300 kilometers north of Buenos Aires, Rosario is a hub of violent crime and clashes between groups seeking to monopolize the drug trade. 'Coming home after so long is something very special. It was what I wanted. To play for Central again,' the 37-year-old Di María said. 'Being a champion with Central is the only thing I'm missing. 'I couldn't believe it when I was training today. It felt like it was the first time. I thoroughly enjoyed my first training session.' Di Maria joined Rosario Central when he was aged four, and made his professional debut with the club at 17 in 2005. After winning the 2007 Under-17 World Cup, he was sold to Benfica. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. He went on to play for Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica for a second time, and collected nearly 30 trophies. He scored against France in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar and won the last two Copa Americas. Di María is coming off a Club World Cup appearance with Benfica. He scored three goals for the Portuguese side which was eliminated by Chelsea in the round of 16. 'Right now, I'm not thinking about retirement,' he said. 'I'm thinking about playing, about enjoying myself. About continuing at whatever level I've been doing.' ___ AP soccer:
