The presence of famed Argentine footballer Lionel Messi in the country sent many Jamaican fans into a frenzy on Thursday as they gathered to watch him play at the National Stadium in Kingston/St. Andrew.
While Messi’s team, American Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami, was battling Jamaica’s Cavalier FC, that did not stop Jamaican fans from donning Inter Miami’s colours as a show of support. Dancehall artste Ding Dong was one such supporter, with the deejay decked out in Inter Miami pink for Thursday’s match.
In a video shared on his Instagram page, the artiste can be heard cheering Messi as he scored Inter Miami’s second goal against Cavalier.
In a subsequent post on his Instagram page, Ding Dong praised Messi, dubbing him the god of football.
“Delighted to have the gad of football on our national pitch… To the ppl dem that’s talking negative to us celebrating our favorite football player which might be a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of us unuh fi LOW WI,” Ding Dong wrote.
The Stir Fry deejay also expressed that he is proud of Cavalier’s performance.
Ding Dong was not the only one star-struck by Messi, with Cavalier player Jeovanni Laing expressing sheer delight while trying on Messi’s jersey. The footballer had swapped jerseys with the Argentine after the match concluded.
In a video circulating online, Jamaican fans can be seen lining up to take photos with the jersey beside Laing, with one fan taking a moment to smell the piece of clothing.
After the match, Uruguayan footballer Luis Suárez also gave away his jersey, gifting the garment to a young Jamaican fan. The jersey was reportedly stolen but has since been returned to the boy it was given to.
While many Jamaicans are still in awe from watching Messi play on Jamaican soil, football coach and athlete manager Craig Butler was left shocked at the support for Inter Miami. On Friday, Butler said he had never seen an opposing side receive such overwhelming support during a match.
