Lionel Messi gives Montreal soccer fans a night to remember

Global superstar fails to score, yet at Saputo Stadium, his Inter Miami team defeated CF Montréal 3-2, and supporters were singing his name.

In an attempt to catch a sight of the superstar, a sizable crowd gathered outside the downtown Ritz-Carlton hotel on Friday night as they awaited the bus transporting Messi and his Inter Miami FC teammates from the airport.

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Another gathering had gathered along Sherbrooke St. outside Saputo Stadium more than three hours prior to the MLS match between Inter Miami and CF Montréal on Saturday night. This time, people were waiting for Messi and his teammates to arrive on a bus.

Arriving just over 90 minutes before the 7:30 p.m. game, the bus had tinted windows and was escorted by police. It drove by the fans and into the parking lot, where there were numerous security personnel stationed. Then, in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the Argentine, who is only five feet seven inches tall but is a giant in the world of soccer, fans ran to the fence around the parking lot.

When Messi came off the van, the supporters could hardly see him, yet nobody seemed to be unhappy afterwards. There were dozens of happy, excited-looking faces.

The biggest international athlete to ever play in Montreal is Lionel Messi, and those who witnessed it can claim to have been a part of something very unique, even historic.