Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored twice each as Inter Miami ended a four-match winless run with a home victory over Montreal in the MLS – but the lowest scorers in the Eastern Conference demonstrated the Herons’ defensive frailties again as the game ended 4-2.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who won the MLS Goal of the Round award for an exquisite long-range strike in Miami’s preceding 3-3 comeback draw at leaders Philadelphia, netted from outside the box again to open the scoring in the 27th minute.
Uruguay all-time top scorer Suarez fired in from Messi’s cross in the 68th minute and pounced for his second three minutes later before the pair combined to allow the Argentina captain to dink in a delightful finish three minutes from time.
GOLAZO DEL MEJOR DE TODOS 🐐✨ MESSI pic.twitter.com/zWYZA5y2cU
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 29, 2025
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Miami vs Montreal: MLS title hopefuls ‘united’
Miami had conceded at least three goals in six of their previous seven matches, and their porousness was evidenced again when Dante Sealy struck from inside the box in the 74th minute before Victor Loturi headed in during added time as Montreal added respectability to the scoreline.
“What this victory shows, above all, is that the team is united and wants to get out of this situation, and that this is the way forward – everyone pulling in the same direction,” said Miami manager Javier Mascherano, whose side had lost five and won one of their previous eight matches in all competitions.
“These kinds of situations also end up strengthening you as a group, so hopefully we can take this as something that makes us stronger for the future.”
Messi ➡️ Suárez = ⚽✨ pic.twitter.com/a7Cr7YKWzD
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 29, 2025
Miami vs Columbus Crew
Miami have a tougher-looking assignment next, hosting fourth-placed Columbus on Saturday (19:30 ET) before a break for next month’s Club World Cup, which they will launch at the Hard Rock Stadium against Egyptian side Al-Ahly on June 14 (20:00).
“The purest part of this sport is the soccer player,” suggested Mascherano. “I truly believe that, regardless of losing one, two, three or even 10 matches, no player steps onto the pitch wanting to have a bad time or to lose.
“A player’s spirit is about trying to give their best and not be remembered for a poor performance on the field.”
Señores y señoras: @LuisSuarez9 ✌️🇺🇾 pic.twitter.com/fjL3DAatkA
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 29, 2025
Miami vs Montreal result ‘important’
Failure to beat opponents who had won one of their first 15 MLS games this season would have accelerated talk of a crisis at the club who finished with a record points total in 2024.
“We’re happy,” said midfielder Federico Redondo. “We needed to get back to winning, so it’s a very important result for the team.”
Telasco Segovia’s 95th-minute equaliser gave Miami much-needed relief against Philadelphia and Mascherano had undoubtedly hoped that his defence would improve their confidence by keeping a rare clean sheet against Montreal.
“Given how the match played out, we earned a good point in Philadelphia,” reflected Redondo. “It was a great point considering the game. These three points make it all the more valuable.”
Miami’s seventh MLS win in their first 15 games lifted them to sixth, seven points behind Philadelphia with a game in hand.
Suarez ➡️ Messi ⚽⚽✨😮💨 pic.twitter.com/gwfZktYwl0
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 29, 2025
Messi and Suarez announce soccer club
Messi and Suarez’s goals and electric combination play came two days after they announced the creation of a soccer club, LSM Deportivo.
The team will play in the Uruguayan Football Association’s Divisional D, which is the fourth tier and was founded in December 2021.
It is unclear exactly how hands-on Messi and Suarez, who remain Miami’s best-known players and are among the most popular athletes in the world, will be in the project in the immediate future, but their profiles alone are likely to inspire huge growth and interest in the club.
“It is an honor and a joy that you invited and chose me,” said Messi, smiling as the shot panned to him towards the end of a video announcement by Suarez introducing the partnership.
“I hope to contribute everything I can to continue growing [the project] and, above all, to be by your side in this.”
Suarez, who retired from international soccer in September 2024, called the initiative “the perfect place to continue sharing our vision of football”.
“We have experienced many things in common since we were children,” added the 38-year-old. “We’ve shared so many experiences in elite football.”
