Messi’s visit to Toronto makes for scarce — and expensive — tickets at BMO Field

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates after scoring the team's fourth goal during the MLS match between New York City FC and Inter Miami CF at Citi Field on September 24, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

TORONTO — Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio laughed when asked whether he was getting more requests for tickets than usual with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in town Saturday.

“Yes,” he said. “The answer is yes. … It is what it is. That’s what (Messi) brings. It’s a special thing.”

A club spokeswoman said Saturday’s game at BMO Field is the first sellout of the season, with just over 28,000 tickets sold. Toronto, which sits 12th in the Eastern Conference at 5-13-12, currently ranks 14th in Major League Soccer in attendance this season, averaging 20,875 fans a game.

Toronto coach Robin Fraser has also been hit up for tickets.

“Yes. And then I tell them what the tickets actually cost in the open market,” he said. “Their request usually goes away pretty quickly.”

As of Friday afternoon, StubHub had some 50 ticket listings for the game, ranging from $336 to $12,941. SeatGeek had 57 listings, from $324 to $16,079.

Citing Toronto’s multiculturalism, Fraser said “the appreciation for (Messi) is as great here as it is anywhere in the league.”

But it’s not just the locals who are interested.

“There are people I know flying in just for the game,” Fraser said. “I know some of the coaches have people flying in just for the game.”

Messi saw action off the bench last season in Miami’s 1-0 win Oct. 5 at BMO Field.

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He drew chants of “Messi, Messi” throughout the evening, which grew louder when he finally came on in the 61st minute. The Argentine captain drew cheers when he paused to allow a young pitch invader to take a selfie with him in the 86th minute. An older fan did not get the same welcome seconds later when he ran on the pitch.

Messi’s every touch drew a response from the announced crowd of 30,217, with a blocked shot drawing aahs in the 68th minute.

“It was a wild night. … It felt like a circus,” was then-Toronto coach John Herdman’s blunt assessment of the evening.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2025

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press