Lionel Messi gets another chance to work his magic when Inter Miami takes on CF Montréal Wednesday night. The little wizard’s creativity and clutch gene should be enough to get Miami past a struggling Canadian outfit, but don’t expect this to be a stroll in the park.
Messi’s Still Got It at 37
Age is just a number for this guy. The Argentine icon has been tearing up MLS with 22 goal contributions already – 10 goals and 12 assists that show he’s lost none of his killer instinct. That recent masterclass against the Red Bulls where he broke single-game records for assists (5) and goal contributions (6) was pure poetry in motion.
His goal against Philly last time out was vintage Messi – plucking Suárez’s pass out of thin air before bending an absolute screamer inside the near post. At 37, he’s still pulling off stuff that makes you rewind the replay five times just to believe it.
The connection with Luis Suárez looks telepathic these days. Both ex-Barcelona stars are tied for the MLS Golden Boot and seem to know exactly where the other one’s going before they even make the run. When these two get cooking, defenders start panicking.
Miami’s Got Issues Though
Having the GOAT doesn’t fix everything. Miami sits seventh in the East and keeps letting teams score early goals – a habit that nearly bit them against Philadelphia recently. You can’t keep giving opponents free head starts and expect Messi to bail you out every single time.
The fixture list isn’t helping either. Seven games in 28 days means players are running on fumes, and even Messi can’t play every match at full throttle anymore. Javier Mascherano has to be smart about managing his superstar’s minutes.
Plus there’s pressure that comes with having Messi on your team. Anything less than trophies feels like failure when you’ve got the world’s best player pulling on your jersey.
Montréal’s Rock Bottom
CF Montréal is having a nightmare season – dead last in the Eastern Conference with a pathetic eight points from 15 games. New boss Laurent Courtois walked into a disaster zone and hasn’t found any quick fixes yet.
Their attack has been decimated by injuries. Matías Cóccaro, Josef Martínez, Kwadwo Opoku, and Dominic Iankov have all spent serious time on the sidelines. Can’t score goals when your best finishers are watching from the physio room.
But here’s the weird thing – Montréal actually has Miami’s number historically. They’ve won six of the last 10 meetings, including that shocking 3-2 win at Chase Stadium in March. Sure, Messi didn’t play that day, but it proves these guys can pull off surprises.
How This Plays Out
Miami wants to dominate possession and let Messi pick his moments to thread killer passes. When it clicks, they look unstoppable. Montréal needs to park the bus early and hope they can sneak a goal on the counter.
Problem is Montréal’s defense has been leakier than a broken pipe all season. Miami creates way too many chances for teams that can’t stay organized for a full 90 minutes.
The Big Factors
Messi’s legs are the main concern. He can’t go full throttle every three days anymore, but a home game against the league’s worst team should be perfect for building confidence.
Set pieces could be huge if this stays tight. Messi’s delivery from dead balls remains world-class, and Miami has enough height to cause chaos in the box.
The Call
Montréal might catch Miami napping early and grab a shock lead. But over 90 minutes, class always shows. Messi’s vision and passing eventually crack open stubborn defenses, then Suárez provides the clinical touch.
Final call: Inter Miami 2-0 CF Montréal
Messi orchestrates a comfortable win that feels tougher than the scoreline suggests. His creativity unlocks Montréal’s defense while Suárez does what he does best. Miami gets three points they desperately need for playoff positioning.
