When Matthias Coccaro left his last team, fans cried as the 26-year-old Uruguayan forward may become equally famous at FC Montreal after joining during the offseason from Argentine club Huracan.

Fans at Huracan nicknamed Coccaro "El Zorro" because of his good mustache that resembles the fictional masked guardian.

Coccaro bought it while wearing a cape and mask to celebrate one of their victories in 2021, under this signature there is a contagious smile, instead of drawing the letter "Z" on his defeated opponents, Coccaro leaves his mark by signing autographs for every fan that makes an effort to see him.

And that's why, as he says, a little girl in Argentina cried next to him on the television screen after his transfer announcement to Montreal. This moment also brought tears to Coccaro's eyes.

Coccaro said in Spanish, speaking through a translator at the Montreal club's training complex: "There is a responsibility I have to the fans." "Fans can travel a long distance, around 1000 kilometers, to watch a football match.

He said when the game is over, you have to spend some time with them. Maybe one fan took time off work or put things aside and made a significant sacrifice to be there with you."

Coccaro impressed Montreal fans when he signed autographs and took pictures with every fan at the team's launch party last week. He also hopes to break down the language barrier by taking weekly French lessons.

Laurent Courtois, Montreal's first-year coach, said: "We believe every center-back he faces is afraid of him." "He is a beast, in a good way."

Coccaro, who stands 5 feet 10 inches tall, has a talent for scoring goals and overcoming competitors. In six matches in Major League Soccer, he has scored three goals—two from penalty kicks—along with one assist and 13 fouls.

Although his teammates aren't ready to declare Coccaro the fans' favorite just yet, captain Samuel Piette expects it won't be long before he gets that title.

Piette said: "He is always smiling, and you can see he is always happy, there is nothing negative about him." He added: "And also the style of football he plays—it’s very aggressive, he works hard, wins many fouls, and is capable of keeping the ball up front, which I think is what the fans love here in Montreal."

"If you give everything you have and get your shirt wet, at the end of the day that is all the fans can ask for. This is something he does every day, so I think that’s why they will love him very quickly."

Coccaro's down-to-earth style comes from humble beginnings. Born and raised in Piraraja, a small farming village with a population of less than 1,000 in southeastern Uruguay, his future as a professional footballer seemed distant.

Coccaro said: "It's almost impossible." "I am unique in my town, but I am resilient."

Notably, his father owned a bar, and his family lived modestly, Coccaro insists that his goal wasn't to become a footballer: "My plan was to actually study."

Coccaro says things changed when he turned 18, and playing football became a way to fund his studies in Uruguay's capital, Montevideo.

He joined the youth academy of the Italian club Cagliari briefly in 2017 before returning to South America and playing in the youth team of Argentine club California Tucumán.

From there, he gradually moved up through the ranks of professionals in Uruguay before joining Huracan in 2021, scoring 31 goals in 110 matches on his way to becoming a prominent figure with the Argentine top-flight team.

After being drawn to play in the same league as superstar Lionel Messi and Uruguayan legend Luis Suarez, Coccaro moved to Major League Soccer in January.

Coccaro said about Major League Soccer: "The level, primarily, has become much stronger." "The quality of marketing, the marketing has become very big, the league has become very big, and Messi and Suarez came.

He added, "This makes the league more visible right now, it's spread all over the world now. That's why (I wanted to join Major League Soccer)."

Coccaro has ambitions to play in one of Europe’s top leagues, but he first needs to find his footing in North America.

Courtois said: "He is an incredible competitor." "But the new league, new teammates, new coach, new language, new rules—there are things he needs to learn."

As for his distinctive facial hair, Coccaro says he grew it when he was younger to feel more manly—but now his niece begs him to shave it off.