Justin Timberlake at the Palacio de los Deportes: A dream come true and a show for history

It’s been more than two decades since Justin Timberlake burst onto the music scene as a solo artist, conquering millions with his talent, charisma and unparalleled stage mastery.

But if there was a pending in his career, it was to perform in Mexico. That dream, which he himself confessed to having had since he was a child, came true on the night of February 7, 2025, when the Forget Tomorrow Tour landed at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, delivering one of the most memorable shows in the history of concerts in the country.

From the early hours of the day, excitement was in the air. Thousands of fans arrived at the venue with banners, outfits inspired by their iconic looks and an overflowing hunger to see, for the first time live, the man who has marked the soundtrack of their lives. The wait was not in vain.

Before Timberlake took the stage, the atmosphere was already electrifying. Andrew Hypes was in charge of starting engines with an explosive DJ set that included anthems such as “We found love” by Rihanna; “Run the world (girls)” by Beyoncé and even “La Chona”, which made the place vibrate in an unexpected fusion with “We will rock you” by Queen.

The audience was already on fire, singing and dancing as if the party had begun, but the real euphoria was about to be unleashed. Suddenly, at 9:30 p.m., the lights went out and the main screen moved. In giant letters, a phrase appeared: “What you are about to live may not be real.”

The deafening screams marked the arrival of Justin Timberlake. Wrapped in a black jacket, white shirt and dark glasses, the star stepped on stage for the first time in Mexico. “Mexico City, tonight will be unforgettable!” he exclaimed, causing a roar that felt like an earthquake.

From the first chord, it was clear that it would not be an ordinary concert, but a multisensory experience that combined impeccable choreography, hypnotic audiovisual production and a live band that elevated each song to another level.

Justin Timberlake at the Palacio de los Deportes He showed why he is a showman. (Image from one of his shows on tour) (FACEBOOK SPECIAL)

“My love” turned the venue into a massive dance floor, with Timberlake asking the audience to jump nonstop. And when it was the turn of “Cry me a river”, the emotion overflowed; Each note transported attendees back to the years when this song dominated the charts.

“My Spanish is shit, but my English is not,” Justin joked in the middle of the show, winning over the audience even more.

The energy rose even more when, accompanied by “The Tennessee Kids,” the stage was transformed into a show worthy of Las Vegas. Saxophonists, trombones, backing vocalists and an avalanche of lights enveloped the venue as “Let the groove” transported everyone back to the disco era.

And on “Summer love,” Timberlake twerked to the floor, showing off his white sneakers and showing that, at 43, he’s still moving like he did in his FutureSex/LoveSounds days.

But the best was yet to come. On “Suit & Tie,” Justin left the center of the stage and walked through the audience, shaking hands with tearfully tearful fans who couldn’t believe what was happening.

Its arrival on a secondary platform in the middle of the venue allowed everyone to enjoy it closer, elevating the intimacy of the moment. Then, guitar in hand, he performed “Say something”, letting the audience take over the chorus in a magical communion between artist and audience.

“Can’t Stop the Feeling” turned the venue into a shower of multicolored balloons, while “Sexy Back” was reminiscent of the days when Timberlake established himself as a pop icon without the need for NSYNC.

Justin Timberlake at the Palacio de los Deportes He showed his affection for Mexico. (SPECIAL X)

Goodbyes are never easy, and Justin knew it. “Thank you so much for coming tonight. I see you there,” he said, pointing to the venue.

“There are people here who have never seen me before, right? Thank you for following me for 25 or 30 years. I love you very much. I dreamed of this since I was a little kid. Thank you for making my dream come true today,” she said.

That’s when “Mirrors” began, and in the most iconic moment of the night, Justin appeared in the crowd wearing a T-shirt that bore his name and the tour’s name in tricolor colors.

He hugged a Mexican flag, waved it, danced with it, and finally knelt down to kiss the floor. Moved to tears, he let the audience sing with him, creating an image that will remain forever in the memory of those who witnessed this historic night.

At the end, the screens showed backstage footage and special moments from the production, as if it were a real-time documentary of what had just happened.

When the lights came on and fans began to come out, the feeling was unanimous: they had just witnessed something unrepeatable. A show that not only met, but exceeded all expectations.

Justin Timberlake didn’t just come to Mexico. He took the heart of an entire country.