Inter Miami CF made a resounding return to Major League Soccer (MLS) action on Saturday, July 5, 2025, securing a dominant 4-1 victory over CF Montréal at Stade Saputo. The match saw a rare early misstep from superstar Lionel Messi, but the Argentine maestro quickly redeemed himself, leading his team to a comprehensive win following their recent FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
The game began with an unexpected turn just two minutes in. Lionel Messi, typically flawless, made an uncharacteristic error while attempting to pass back to his center-back, Tomás Aviles. A miscommunication with right-back Marcelo Weigandt resulted in the ball being intercepted by CF Montréal attacker Prince Owusu, who capitalized on the opportunity to score past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, giving the home side an early 1-0 lead. This moment was noted as one of Messi’s first significant mistakes since joining the South Florida club and the MLS, momentarily putting the 2024 Supporters’ Shield winners behind the 15th-placed team in the Eastern Conference. (Sports Illustrated, USA Today)
However, Inter Miami, and Messi himself, quickly regrouped. The equalizer came in the 33rd minute when Tadeo Allende found the back of the net with a left-footed shot from outside the box, assisted by none other than Lionel Messi. Just seven minutes later, in the 40th minute, Messi scored his first goal of the night, converting a left-footed shot from the center of the box after receiving a superb header assist from Luis Suárez, putting Inter Miami ahead 2-1 before halftime. (VAVEL, USA Today)
The second half saw Inter Miami extend their lead with continued attacking prowess. In the 60th minute, Telasco Segovia added a third goal for Miami with a powerful right-footed shot from outside the penalty area that kissed off the crossbar before going in, assisted by Tadeo Allende. Only two minutes later, Messi struck again, securing his brace. His second goal of the match, in the 62nd minute, was a testament to his individual brilliance, as he dribbled from near-midfield, maneuvering around four Montreal defenders before slotting the ball home. This brought the score to 4-1, effectively sealing the victory for Inter Miami. (ESPN, USA Today)
This match marked Inter Miami’s first MLS fixture since their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, where they made history by advancing to the Round of 16 before being eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain with a 4-0 loss on June 29. Despite the CWC exit, coach Javier Mascherano had confirmed Messi’s availability for the Montreal clash, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum. (Inter Miami CF Official Site)
With this victory, Inter Miami now stands in sixth place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 32 points from 17 games. They still have several games in hand compared to most of the league, which has played 20 or 21 matches. Messi’s performance further solidifies his MVP candidacy, as he now boasts 10 goals and eight assists in MLS play this season. Across all competitions for Inter Miami, he has accumulated an impressive 50 goals and 24 assists in 63 games, with 31 of those goals coming in just 39 MLS regular season appearances. (Sports Illustrated, USA Today)
CF Montréal, on the other hand, remains at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table with 14 points from 20 games. Historically, Montréal had a better head-to-head record against Inter Miami with seven wins to Miami’s four in 12 previous encounters, but Miami’s recent 4-2 home win in May and this latest victory signal a shift in momentum. Inter Miami will look to continue their strong form as they face the New England Revolution on July 9, followed by a home match against Nashville SC on July 12. (Inter Miami CF Official Site, USA Today)
