Lionel Messi is back—and he’s better than ever! On Saturday night, the 38-year-old soccer superstar scored two amazing goals to help Inter Miami beat CF Montreal 4-1 in their return to Major League Soccer (MLS) play. The game was held in Miami, and fans were thrilled to see Messi work his magic again after the team’s recent trip to the Club World Cup.
A Tough Start, But a Big Comeback
The game didn’t start perfectly for Inter Miami. In just the second minute, Messi made a mistake. He tried to pass the ball backwards to a teammate, but it landed right in front of Prince Owusu from Montreal. Owusu quickly took a strong shot with his left foot and scored the first goal of the game. Just like that, Montreal was winning 1-0.
Even the best players in the world can mess up sometimes—but what’s important is how they bounce back. And Messi bounced back in a big way.
What Is MLS?
Before we go on, here’s a quick fact: Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Each season, teams from all over North America compete to finish at the top of the Eastern or Western Conference and qualify for the playoffs. Inter Miami is in the Eastern Conference and currently has 32 points from 17 matches, placing them sixth in the standings.
Messi Helps Turn the Game Around
By the 33rd minute, Messi helped his team get back in the game. He passed the ball to Tadeo Allende, who was standing just outside the penalty box. Allende saw his chance and chipped the ball over the Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirios and into the net. That made the score 1-1.
Just a few minutes later, in the 40th minute, Messi did something he’s known for all over the world. He took the ball near the corner of the penalty box, quickly dribbled past defender Fernando Alvarez, and curled the ball into the far post with his famous left foot. It was a beautiful goal that gave Miami a 2-1 lead going into halftime.
What’s a “Curled Shot”?
When a player “curls” the ball, they kick it in a way that makes it spin and curve through the air. Messi is famous for this move. It’s very hard for goalkeepers to stop a curling shot because the ball changes direction!
More Goals in the Second Half
In the 60th minute, Telasco Segovia scored another goal for Miami. He took a powerful shot from outside the penalty box. The ball hit the crossbar (the top part of the goal) and bounced down into the net. This made the score 3-1.
Just two minutes later, Messi scored again—and this one might have been even better than the first. He dribbled past four Montreal defenders on a solo run and calmly placed the ball into the center of the goal. With that goal, Messi gave Miami a comfortable 4-1 lead, which stayed the same until the final whistle.
Messi’s Incredible Stats
This game marked another amazing performance from Messi. He now has 12 goals in 14 MLS games this season. Even more impressively, he has scored 7 goals in his last 4 MLS matches!
Here’s a cool soccer stat: the average number of goals scored in most games is around 2 or 3. When there are more than 2.5 goals in a match, it’s called “Over 2.5 Goals” in betting terms. This Miami vs. Montreal game had 5 goals, so it definitely fits that category!
Another fun fact: when both teams score at least once, it’s called “BTTS” (Both Teams To Score). Since both Miami and Montreal scored in this game, it was also a BTTS match.
What the Coach Said
After the game, Inter Miami’s coach Javier Mascherano, who used to play with Messi on Argentina’s national team, had great things to say.
“It is a great night,” Mascherano said. “We took the three points that were very necessary to start thinking about the MLS again.”
He added that it’s not always easy for teams to get back into regular league play after a big international tournament like the Club World Cup.
In case you didn’t know, Inter Miami recently played in the FIFA Club World Cup, a special competition where the best clubs from different continents face off. Miami made it past the first stage but lost 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. So Saturday’s match was their first MLS game in over a month, and it was the perfect way to restart their season.
Messi: A Game-Changer
Mascherano also said this about Messi:
“Leo is happy playing football. Every time he is fit, he is going to play. Clearly, we have an extra advantage when he plays and we want to use that advantage as much as possible.”
And that’s true. Messi’s presence on the field gives his team confidence and helps them play better. He’s not just scoring goals—he’s making everyone around him better too.
What’s Next for Inter Miami?
Inter Miami won’t have much time to rest. They still have five more MLS games before the end of the month. That means the team will need to stay focused and healthy as they push for a higher spot in the standings.
A Great Game for Soccer Fans
For fans watching the match, this was the kind of game that makes you love soccer: lots of goals, awesome skills, and exciting moments. If you’re a fan of high-scoring matches, this one definitely had Over 2.5 Goals. And with both teams getting on the scoreboard, it was also a BTTS game.
So, whether you’re a longtime Messi fan or new to MLS, one thing’s for sure: Messi still has that magic. And as long as he’s on the field, Inter Miami will be a team to watch.
