Inter Miami vs CF Montreal: Messi Double Drives 4-1 Win

Inter Miami vs CF Montreal provided a thrilling return to Major League Soccer for the Herons as Lionel Messi brushed aside an early error to inspire a 4-1 comeback victory at Stade Saputo.

Inter Miami vs CF Montreal – How the Drama Unfolded

Inter Miami vs CF Montreal kicked off in nightmare fashion for the visitors. Barely two minutes had elapsed when Messi, attempting to play out from the back, lost the ball on the edge of his own area. Prince Owusu pounced and coolly finished past Drake Callender to ignite the Canadian crowd.

Yet from that moment onward, Miami seized control. Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s men sharpened their press, funneled possession through Sergio Busquets, and relentlessly probed the flanks where Tadeo Allende and Jordi Alba combined to great effect. Pressure told in the 33rd minute: Messi split the defense with a lofted pass, Allende ghosted in at the back post, and the Argentine winger thumped home for 1-1.

Messi Magic Turns the Tide

The decisive swing arrived five minutes before half-time. Luis Suárez rose to flick on a Callender goal-kick, finding Messi in stride. The captain shimmied past Joel Waterman and Gabriele Corbo before bending a trademark left-footer into the far corner. Inter Miami vs CF Montreal suddenly felt lopsided; Montreal’s midfield could not match the visitors’ tempo.

Second-Half Surge Seals the Points

Montreal manager Laurent Courtois introduced fresh legs after the break, but Miami’s grip tightened. In the 60th minute, young Venezuelan playmaker Telasco Segovia collected a squared ball from Alba, opened his body, and curled a sublime 20-yard finish beyond Jonathan Sirois for 3-1.

Barely two minutes later, Stade Saputo witnessed a goal that will loop endlessly on highlight reels. Again supplied by Suárez, Messi slalomed through four defenders, wove around the sliding George Campbell, and tucked inside the near post for his second of the evening—his eighth MLS strike of the campaign and arguably the pick of the bunch.

Player Ratings: Herons Fly High

Inter Miami (4-3-3)

Drake Callender 7 – Alert after the early setback, solid distribution.
Jordi Alba 8 – Endless overlaps, assist for Segovia.
Nicolás Freyre 7 – Marshalled Owusu well after shaky opening.
Tomás Avilés 7 – Dominant in the air, calm under pressure.
DeAndre Yedlin 6 – Offered width but caught out once or twice.
Sergio Busquets 8 – Dictated rhythm, 93% pass accuracy.
Telasco Segovia 8 – One goal, tireless pressing.
Benjamin Cremaschi 7 – Linked defense and attack smoothly.
Tadeo Allende 8 – Clinical equaliser, constant menace.
Lionel Messi 9 – Two goals, an assist, several moments of genius.
Luis Suárez 8 – Two clever headers created goals, vintage holdup play.

Subs: Julian Gressel 6, Diego Gómez 6, Noah Allen 6, Leonardo Campana 6, David Ruiz N/A.

CF Montreal (3-4-2-1)

Jonathan Sirois 5 – Exposed by defensive lapses.
Joel Waterman 4 – Couldn’t contain Messi’s runs.
Gabriele Corbo 5 – Busy afternoon, little success.
George Campbell 4 – Outfoxed on the fourth goal.
Raheem Edwards 5, Ruan 5, Mathieu Choinière 5, Bryce Duke 5, Ariel Lassiter 5, Jules-Anthony Vilsaint 5, Prince Owusu 7.

Subs: Samuel Piette 5, Sunusi Ibrahim 5, Victor Wanyama 5, Lassi Lappalainen 5, Nathan-Dylan Saliba N/A.

What the Result Means for the MLS Table

Inter Miami vs CF Montreal ended with the Herons climbing to 32 points from 17 matches, good enough to keep pace with Eastern Conference leaders New York City FC. Montreal remain mid-table on 20 points and must arrest a worrying home slide. Next-up, Miami welcome New England Revolution, while Montreal host the first leg of their Canadian Championship final.

Messi’s Post-Club World Cup Statement

Returning from the Club World Cup—where Miami finished third—Messi looked refreshed rather than fatigued. His two goals moved him past the 10-goal mark in all competitions already, reinforcing the notion that, even at 38, he remains MLS’s most decisive talent.

Tactical Talking Points

• Martino’s 4-3-3 morphs into a 3-2-5 in possession, with Yedlin pushing high and Busquets dropping between centre-backs.
• Segovia’s inclusion gave Miami vertical thrust from midfield; his willingness to shoot from distance balanced the wide overloads.
• Courtois’ back three struggled to track diagonal runs between the lines, leaving Messi and Allende space to operate.

Opinion: Herons Becoming Genuine Title Contenders

Miami’s depth was questioned during a grueling spring run, yet the seamless reintegration of Messi and Suárez suggests Martino now has the squad rotation figured out. If the backline maintains concentration and the midfield continues winning second balls, a Supporters’ Shield tilt looks increasingly realistic.

Short Take: Saturday’s masterclass was a reminder that stopping Messi often requires more than just a packed defense—it demands perfection. Montreal were good for ten minutes; Miami were brilliant for eighty, and that difference decided the match.