Lionel Messi Invades Canada

Lionel Messi mania has swept across North America, and Toronto wasn’t spared from the frenzy. For all the world, it looked like a head of state was holed up inside Hotel X, with police cruisers, motorcycles, and metal fences blocking off the area. Yet it wasn’t a politician or royal figure at the centre of this security detail, but Messi himself.
Fans in fluorescent pink chanted his name, and when the Inter Miami bus rolled out with a police escort, the crowd ran after it like a scene straight out of Beatlemania. This circus has followed Messi since he joined Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2023 after 17 years at Barcelona, and Toronto FC’s home ground, BMO Field, was no different. Messi only played the final 29 minutes of the match, but his presence alone captivated the 30,217 spectators in attendance.

Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed! You also get the other shows on the network ad-free! $4.99, a no brainer.

This podcast supports Podcasting 2.0 if you’d like to support the show via value for value and stream some sats!