Lionel Messi Makes Historic Debut in Montreal

Lionel Messi, often hailed as the greatest football player of all time, has arrived in Montreal for his historic debut match in Canada with Inter Miami facing CF Montreal at Saputo Stadium this Saturday evening.

The anticipation is palpable as fans gathered at the Montreal airport to welcome Messi on Friday night and later cheered as he arrived at the Ritz-Carlton hotel.

With tickets still available and starting at a minimum of $325, excluding resale markets, the match is set to be a spectacle for both those attending in person and those watching from the comfort of their homes on RDS, TSN5, and Apple TV.

All signs point to Messi playing in the game, with reports suggesting he is likely to be in the starting lineup. Confirmation is expected closer to kick-off around 6:30 pm.

Messi, along with former Barcelona teammates Suarez and Busquets, trained without issues leading up to the match. Only Jordi Alba remains sidelined due to injury.

Inter Miami, led by Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, is in fine form, sitting atop the MLS standings with seven wins, two draws, and three losses. They aim to continue their winning streak before key players, including Messi, depart for the Copa America.

Meanwhile, CF Montreal, under Laurent Courtois, faces the challenge of containing Messi, who has been in exceptional form with 10 goals and 12 assists in just 8 appearances this season.

The Montreal side, currently 11th in the Eastern Conference with a record of three wins, three draws, and four losses, will look to bounce back from a 4-1 defeat against Nashville SC in their last outing.

Messi’s presence in Montreal adds an extra layer of excitement to the match at Saputo Stadium, where fans hope to witness history as the legendary forward graces Canadian soil for the first time in his illustrious career.