Football and heavy metal legends meet at Milan's San Siro

Heavy metal and football have a long-standing connection, and Iron Maiden's bassist, Steve Harris, a fervent supporter of West Ham United, recently met with Inter Milan icon Javier Zanetti. Harris is currently in Italy with Iron Maiden as part of the band's 50th-anniversary world tour.

The legendary musician visited the historic San Siro stadium in Milan, where he connected with Zanetti, an Argentine footballer who played for Inter Milan from 1995 to 2014. The encounter was shared by F. C. Internazionale Milano on social media, showing Harris, dressed in football attire, receiving an autographed jersey from Zanetti, who was known by the nickname "Il Capitano" and wore the iconic number 4.

It is not uncommon for Iron Maiden members and their crew to engage in friendly football matches during their tours, often playing against local production teams or even established sports clubs like Burnley FC and Slavia Prague. This tradition highlights the band's passion for the sport.

Looking ahead, Iron Maiden's "Run For Your Lives World Tour 2026" includes a South American leg, with two scheduled performances at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, on October 31 and November 1.