Messi Equals Henry's MLS Record as Inter Miami Crushes Montreal 4-1
Lionel Messi delivered another masterful display as Inter Miami CF dominated CF Montréal with a commanding 4–1 victory in their opening MLS fixture following their return from the FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
Despite an early defensive lapse that put them behind, the Herons swiftly recovered and witnessed exceptional performances from Messi and Luis Suárez, leading to a comprehensive triumph over the struggling CF Montréal, who currently sit in 14th position.
This victory elevated Miami's position in the Eastern Conference table, bringing their season tally to 32 points from 17 matches as they continue building momentum for a potential MLS Cup Playoffs campaign this autumn.
Having secured this important win, Miami now turns their attention to Wednesday's encounter with the New England Revolution, before hosting Nashville SC and MLS Golden Boot frontrunner Sam Surridge at home next weekend.
However, before examining future fixtures, here are Sports Illustrated's key observations from Saturday's impressive 4–1 Inter Miami triumph over Montréal.
Messi's Recovery and Elite-Level Display
Messi rarely commits errors, but Saturday's encounter with Montréal witnessed one of his most significant mistakes since arriving in MLS during 2023, as he inadvertently played the ball into the path of Montréal forward Prince Owusu, who converted in the second minute.
Perhaps this early setback served as the motivation Messi required to elevate his performance. Subsequently, he demonstrated the mesmerizing dribbling abilities that have captivated global audiences throughout the past two decades.
He proceeded to net twice through two brilliant individual efforts and delivered an assist to Tadeo Allende for the equalizing strike.
This represented vintage Messi, the caliber of play that graced highlight packages worldwide for more than ten years during his tenure with FC Barcelona and PSG, though such moments have appeared sporadically during his American journey with Inter Miami.
For his opening goal, Messi's clever movement following a combination with Suárez created the space needed to finish, producing what could easily be considered a Goal of the Week candidate. His second strike was truly extraordinary, collecting possession in midfield, maintaining close control, and weaving through virtually the entire opposition before finding the net.
By the match's conclusion, Messi had returned to peak form, registering 68 touches, five successful dribbles, and five chances created, all highlighting his overall impact and game-changing ability.
These two goals also marked his third consecutive match with a brace, making him the first player to achieve this feat since Thierry Henry with the New York Red Bulls in 2012.
As Messi enters the twilight phase of his career, it's evident that his pace has diminished somewhat. Nevertheless, the technical brilliance and dribbling mastery that have always made him magical with the ball persist, even if they appear less consistently.
Transferring Club World Cup Quality to MLS
While Messi's performance dominated proceedings in Montréal, Inter Miami's collective display provided encouraging evidence that they've maintained their fitness and readiness following their FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 journey.
Simultaneously, it demonstrated their capacity to translate the enhanced standards from those high-pressure, quality encounters back into MLS competition, similar to Seattle Sounders FC's achievement last week against Austin FC.
Beyond Messi's brilliance, the match featured impressive contributions from Suárez, who registered two assists alongside his longtime striking partner, plus Allende, whose goal represented his 10th across all competitions for the club.
The performance also revealed tactical growth from manager Javier Mascherano, who utilized all five substitutions, something he had seldom done during his initial period with the team. This allowed Miami's squad depth to flourish and close out the match effectively, even as the experienced players maintained relentless pressure until the final whistle.
For a team previously questioned about their depth against world-class opposition, it's clear that Miami have found a more successful formula than not regarding MLS standards, particularly in their attacking play.
Defensive Issues Remain Unresolved
Inter Miami's offensive capabilities are unquestionable; they will find the back of the net regularly. However, against superior opposition, the defensive structure continues to be problematic and offered little reassurance when tested, as evidenced against 14th-placed CF Montréal.
While Benjamin Cremaschi in midfield provides less defensive protection compared to when Federico Redondo occupies that role, the central defensive partnership of Maxi Falcón and Tomás Avilés failed to raise their performance level, struggling consistently throughout the encounter.
Falcón, who displayed his physical attributes during the Club World Cup, appeared to lower his standards to match his opposition, losing five duels and being beaten by dribblers twice. Meanwhile, Avilés looked uncertain and lacking confidence when in possession.
Ultimately, while having a subpar performance against one of MLS's weakest teams proved manageable, it reinforces expectations that Inter Miami will strengthen their defensive line during the summer transfer period if they harbor genuine aspirations of capturing the MLS Cup.