Montreal fans give Messi the royal treatment

Global soccer superstars like Ronaldinho, David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have visited Montreal in the past. Didier Drogba even played parts of two seasons in the city for the Impact. But their presence didn't match up to that of Lionel Messi.

Cheers for the Argentine World Cup champion shook the foundations of Saputo Stadium Saturday night. Fan interest was so high it required the club to add extra levels of security around the venue, and it transformed $40 seats into viewpoints that cost hundreds.

Concerns in the days leading up to the game that CF Montreal might have overestimated how much people were willing to pay for a ticket vanished once it was confirmed that Messi was in the starting line-up.

An hour before kick off, the line at the ticket booth was dozens deep. The game was announced as a sell-out, with many fans arriving early to watch warm ups and cheer loudly when Messi took shots on goal.

Even the recently dismissed CF Montreal vice-president and chief sporting officer, Olivier Renard, was at the game. Team owner Joey Saputo's attendance didn't dissuade him. Despite the public falling out between the two, perhaps Renard couldn't turn down his chance to see Messi as well.

Messi's first touch was less than majestic. He turned the ball over. But his brilliance didn't stay repressed for long. Moments later he was facilitating a scoring chance for a teammate, forcing Montreal's defender to make a desperation slide to block the shot.

In the 18th minute the crowd's anticipation peaked as Messi was taken down at the top of the box and awarded a free kick. Thousands of cellphones pointed toward him.

Would he deliver like David Beckham did when he picked out the back of the net in his visit 12 years ago?

It was not to be. The shot was high and Messi gritted his teeth and pulled his jersey over his face.

A Messi moment almost came in the 84th minute. But the play was moot as the superstar was flagged offside.

The stadium erupted into chants of "Messi, Messi, Messi" — a treatment never afforded to visiting players.

CF Montreal coach Laurent Courtois said post-game that it bothered him that fans would cheer for an opponent.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi gets by CF Montreal's Fernando Alvarez. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

But Messi isn't just any visiting player. He is among the sport's royalty. And Montrealers treated him as such.

Another free kick in the 87th minute reignited the chant. But again, Messi's effort was too strong, and the ball whistled over the bar.

The game ended in a 3-2 victory for Miami. But unlike a typical loss at home, the fans didn't seem that bothered with the home team's failure.

Midfielder Bryce Duke also focused on the bright side, saying post-game that keeping Messi off the score sheet was an achievement in itself. Especially considering Messi had five assists and a goal in his previous game.

While Messi may not have delivered a signature moment, he did make his mark. The soccer great's first visit to Canada was in Montreal and for those who went out of their way to see it, they will never forget it.