Inter Miami returned to MLS action following their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 run, taking on CF Montreal in Canada. And as he’s done so many times before, Lionel Messi stepped up—scoring a brilliant brace to complete the comeback and give the Herons a 4–1 lead.
The match didn’t start well for either Inter Miami or Messi. Just two minutes in, Montreal’s high press during a build-up forced a rare error from the Argentine star, whose back pass was intercepted by Prince Owusu, leading to an early goal for the home side.
Determined to make up for the mistake, Messi began to take control of the game. First, he set up Tadeo Allende, who capped off a flowing team move with a clinical left-footed strike to bring Inter Miami level. But Messi wasn’t done—he wanted to make his own mark on the scoresheet.
In the 40th minute, Messi made his presence felt once again. Tomas Aviles played a long pass onto Luis Suarez, who headed the ball perfectly for the Argentine to control, to then drive the ball into the box and face off against defender Fernando Alvarez. With a trademark cut inside, Messi left Alvarez flat-footed before calmly slotting home Inter Miami’s second goal of the night.
Then in the second half, Inter Miami stepped on the gas. Telasco Segovia fired a stunning strike into the top corner, and in the 62nd minute, Messi delivered once again—capping off a brilliant solo run to make it 4–1 in Montreal.
After playing every minute of Inter Miami’s Club World Cup campaign, Messi continues to build an impressive 2025 season following his return from injury. He’s now tallied 18 goals and 7 assists in 25 appearances—contributions that go beyond numbers, shaping the team’s creativity and attacking identity.
Messi edging closer to 400-assist milestone
Messi has long cemented his legacy as the all-time assist leader in soccer history, highlighting his extraordinary impact not only as a prolific scorer but also as a visionary playmaker. Now, he’s closing in on yet another historic milestone.
While no other player has surpassed the 300-assist mark, Messi currently sits at 385 assists for club and country combined. With just 15 more to reach the 400-assist mark, he’s on pace to set a benchmark that could stand unchallenged for generations.
