Stade Saputo- A magnificent Lionel Messi led Inter Miami CF to a 4-1 win over CF Montreal, tallying 2 goals and 1 assist on the night. Miami’s return to MLS play was a statement maker, with the Herons turning an early deficit into a stunning rout. Telasco Segovia and Tadeo Allende added gems of their own for Miami, while Prince Owusu scored Montreal’s only goal.
Starting XI
Javier Mascherano opted for a 4-4-2 formation to start the match, with Oscar Ustari in goal along with Jordi Alba, Maxi Falcon, Tomas Aviles, and Marcelo Weigandt as the back four; Sergio Busquets, Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende, and Benjamin Cremaschi in the midfield. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez led the attack.
Looks like a 4-4-2 tonight for #InterMiamiCF 🆚 CF Montreal…Avilés slots in for the injured Noah Allen & Cremaschi gets the start in the midfield with Busquets, Segovia, & Allende..#Messi & Suarez up 🔝…#MLS sees the return of Miami… pic.twitter.com/swtssxWC0T
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) July 5, 2025
Game Action
Prince Owusu took advantage of a rare Messi mishap and put Montreal up 1-0 two minutes into the game. Lionel gave an errant pass that was intended for Tomas Aviles, but instead ended up at the feet of Owusu, who put it in the back of Miami’s net.
Lionel #Messi with the pass back for Tomas Avilés, it’s intercepted & leads to a goal for CF Montreal… 1-0 lead 2-minutes into the match…#MLS #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) July 5, 2025
The early deficit lit a fire under Messi and Miami, with the Herons answering via a Tadeo Allende left-footed beauty in the 33rd minute. Allende received the ball, cut in, and unloaded a corner shot past the diving goalkeeper for the 1-1 draw.
Tadeo Allende with the left footed torpedo into the Montreal corner net to tie the match up for #InterMiamiCF.. 1-1 in a game where Miami has not been that dynamic team of the #FIFAClubWorldCup …#Messi & the squad need to pick it up a notch…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) July 6, 2025
In the 40th minute, the Goat received a Luis Suarez pass on the right side of the pitch, dribbled into the box, and finished with his patented left-footed blast for the 2-1 Miami lead.
The GOAT 🐐 Lionel #Messi, gave one away early & then gets one back for #InterMiamiCF with some sleek dribbling into the box & his patented left footed shot to give the Herons the 2-1 lead… #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) July 6, 2025
Despite a slow start, Miami went into halftime leading 2-1 and in control of the match. The second half saw the Herons score a pair of beautiful goals to break the game wide open and end any hopes Montreal had of turning the game around.
Telasco Segovia lulled the Montreal defender to sleep with a couple of short touches and then launched a rocket into the top corner of the net to give Miami the 3-1 lead in the 60th minute.
Telasco Segovia with the GOLAZO!! He lulls the defender to sleep & then rockets 🚀 a right footed blast 💥 for the 3-1 #InterMiamiCF lead…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) July 6, 2025
Two minutes later, Lionel Messi closed the curtains on his magnificent performance with a surreal charge into the box. Messi dribbled through and around multiple defenders, finishing with an atomic blast that gave Miami the 4-1 lead, effectively ending all hope for Montreal.
The GOAT 🐐 #Messi shows that he still can dribble past defenders with a magnificent display of skill! He dribbled around & through multiple Montreal defenders to destroy the net with a missile to make it 4-1 Miami…#MLS #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) July 6, 2025
The final 4-1 scoreline sent a statement to the rest of MLS, Miami is back and ready to challenge for an MLS Cup.
Postgame
Inter Miami returned to MLS play with high expectations. The Herons had a historic run at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first MLS squad to qualify for the round of sixteen in the tournament. Miami also became the first MLS and CONCACAF squad to defeat a European team in an official competition. Messi and Miami played at a high level in the tournament, and the team is expected to maintain that same level during the MLS season. Javier Macherano, in the postgame press conference, thought that despite the slow start, Miami played at a similar level,
The team had to work hard to turn it around, and they did an excellent job, right in line with the level we showed throughout the Club World Cup
If Inter Miami can manage the rest of the season without any serious injuries, they have a chance to challenge for the MLS Cup. The squad has found its rhythm as a team with strong play all around. Tadeo Allende felt that the strong team performance continued in the Montreal game,
It was a great effort, a strong performance by the team overall
Final Thoughts
Lionel Messi is Magnifique! At 38 years old, the Goat still provides vintage performances for all to enjoy. What we are now seeing will be hard to see again during our lifetime.
Javier Mascherano has managed to turn his narrative around as the Inter Miami CF coach. Fans have been calling for his job for some time now, but with Miami’s latest feats, those calls have grown quieter. Masch needs to continue to elevate the squad with good tactics and player selection and lead Miami to a trophy.
Macherano and management appear to be at odds regarding the two open spots on the roster. It was expected that the Herons would reinforce the roster with quality players before participating in the FIFA Club World Cup, and that did not happen. Let’s see if any moves are made during the next available period.
Miami is back playing MLS matches, and the experience the young players obtained during the FIFA Club World Cup should be a big benefit on the journey for the MLS Cup.
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