On Wednesday night, Lionel Messi showcased his brilliance, scoring twice and assisting in a decisive 4-2 victory for Inter Miami against Montreal.
Messi found the net in the 27th and 87th minutes, while his impressive dribbling set up Luis Suárez's goal in the 68th minute. Suárez added another goal just three minutes later, solidifying Miami's lead.
This win marked only the second victory for Messi's struggling team in their last eight matches, having last tasted success on May 3. Since then, Miami has recorded two draws and two losses, slipping to sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The team's decline is notable, especially considering their remarkable regular season performance in 2024, where they achieved a record of 22-4-8, earning 74 points and a winning percentage of .765, along with the Supporters Shield.
In their previous match, Miami managed to rally from a two-goal deficit to secure a tie against Philadelphia. This momentum proved beneficial against Montreal, who currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with only one win this season.
Messi's opening goal was facilitated by Sergio Busquets, who not only passed to Messi but also created space for him to score his seventh goal of the MLS season.
Following his assist to Suárez, Messi effectively sealed the game with his second goal, demonstrating his pivotal role in the match.
For Suárez, this performance was particularly significant; he had finished last season tied for second-most goals in MLS with 20 but had only managed two goals prior to this match.
Montreal's Dante Sealy and Victor Loturi each scored, but it was not enough to overcome Miami's offensive surge.
This victory provided Miami with the much-needed confidence boost ahead of their upcoming Club World Cup play. The Herons will face Columbus in another MLS match at home on Saturday before their first tournament game against Al Ahly of Egypt on June 14.
