Inter Miami returned to Major League Soccer action with a commanding 4-1 victory over CF Montréal at Saputo Stadium on Saturday, July 5, 2025, marking a strong bounce-back following their exit from the FIFA Club World Cup. Despite an early setback, Lionel Messi and his teammates showcased their resilience and quality, reasserting themselves as serious contenders in the Eastern Conference.
The match began on a sour note for Inter Miami, as just two minutes into the game, Messi made a rare and costly error. Attempting a back pass, the Argentine superstar miscommunicated with his teammate Marcelo Weigandt, sending the ball directly to Montréal forward Prince Owusu. Owusu capitalized with a calm left-footed finish from the center of the box, giving the home side a surprising early 1-0 lead. This moment was one of the few mistakes Messi has made since joining MLS, but it only fueled his determination for the rest of the match.
Inter Miami responded with urgency. Jordi Alba came close to leveling the score in the 15th minute, but his left-footed shot rattled the right post. Shortly after, Tadeo Allende tested Montréal’s goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, who made a crucial save. However, the breakthrough came in the 33rd minute when Messi orchestrated a slick move: Sergio Busquets delivered a precise through ball to Messi, who then assisted Allende with a deft pass, allowing the midfielder to fire a left-footed shot from outside the box to equalize.
Building on this momentum, Messi turned the game on its head just before halftime. In the 40th minute, he weaved skillfully through four defenders before curling a perfect low shot into the far corner of the net, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 lead. The joy on Messi’s face as he celebrated with his teammates was a testament to how much the goal meant, especially after the early blunder.
Coming out of the break, Inter Miami continued to dominate. Telasco Segovia extended the lead to 3-1 in the 60th minute with a powerful right-footed strike from outside the penalty area, assisted by Allende. Just two minutes later, Messi once again dazzled the crowd, dribbling from near midfield past four defenders and unleashing a precise shot into the top center of the goal to make it 4-1. The Stade Saputo crowd, normally reserved, erupted in chants of "Messi! Messi!" acknowledging the Argentine’s brilliance even on opposing turf.
Coach Javier Mascherano, who fielded a strong lineup including Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets—all starters from the recent Club World Cup Round of 16 match against Paris Saint-Germain—praised his star player’s commitment and impact. "Leo is happy playing soccer and whenever he is fit to play, he will play, because he is happiest on the field," Mascherano said after the game. "Clearly, we have a plus, an extra advantage, when he plays, and we want to use that advantage as much as possible and in as many games as possible. He’s clearly a different player and we’re lucky to have him, to have him playing for us. And today he made the difference again."
This victory was crucial for Inter Miami, who had slipped from third to seventh place in the Eastern Conference during their Club World Cup break. With only 17 MLS matches played—four fewer than most rivals—the team is in a unique position, holding the final automatic playoff spot but with games in hand to climb higher. The win moved them up to sixth place, though they remain 10 points behind first-place Cincinnati and nine behind second-place Nashville.
Montreal, on the other hand, came into the match buoyed by their first home win of the season, a narrow 1-0 victory over New York City FC. Despite that boost, the Canadian side remains at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with just three wins, five draws, and 12 losses. They were without defender Joel Waterman due to suspension and were dealing with injuries to key players such as Caden Clark and Giacomo Vrioni. Olger Escobar returned from international duty, but the team struggled to contain Miami’s attacking threat.
Inter Miami’s lineup reflected their intent to maintain momentum. Jordi Alba returned to reinforce the left side of defense, and despite injuries to Gonzalo Luján, Yannick Bright, and David Ruiz, the team looked cohesive. Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari started in goal, with Mascherano opting to stick with his experienced core rather than resting key players after the Club World Cup.
The match also held a poignant moment as Inter Miami players wore black armbands in memory of Liverpool’s Portuguese star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who tragically passed away in a car crash earlier that week. Mascherano reflected on the gesture, saying, "It was a terrible tragedy, made a huge impact on the football world, and this small gesture was the least we could do out of respect for them and their families."
Looking ahead, Inter Miami faces a packed July schedule with seven matches in 25 days, including four of the next five on the road. Mascherano acknowledged the challenge, stating, "We’ll see how we can manage some roster changes without feeling it too much because I don’t like to change six or seven players from one match to the other. We’ll need everyone to participate." The team’s next fixtures include trips to New England and Cincinnati, as well as home matches against Nashville and Cincinnati again.
For Montréal, the task is clear: improve their form and climb out of the Eastern Conference basement. For Inter Miami, the focus is on leveraging their recent success, particularly the form of Lionel Messi, who has now scored 10 goals and provided eight assists in MLS play this season. His overall tally for Miami stands at 50 goals and 24 assists in 63 appearances across all competitions, with 31 of those goals coming in just 39 MLS regular-season games.
The victory over Montréal was not just a statement of intent but a demonstration of Miami’s ability to overcome adversity and maintain their pursuit of an MLS Cup. With Messi leading the charge and a squad capable of mixing experience and youth, Inter Miami looks poised to make a significant push as the season progresses.
