Ageless Lionel Messi turned back the clock in Inter Miami’s match against CF Montreal on Saturday, scoring an incredible solo goal. Messi took the ball in the midfield, dribbled past 5 defenders to slot in a perfect shot to the top right corner of the goalkeeper.
Messi, now 38, reminded fans of his sensational solo goal against Getafe way back in 2007, which went viral for its Spanish commentary – Ankara Messi. Messi’s brace on the day, helped Miami grab a 4-1 win over their opponents, as they shook off their poor Club World Cup campaign.
MLS: Inter Miami vs CF Montreal
Montreal had stunned Miami early, taking the lead in just the second minute through Prince Owusu. The forward capitalised on a rare Messi miscue, intercepting an errant pass near the top of the box before calmly slotting the ball through goalkeeper Oscar Ustari’s legs.
For the next half-hour, Inter Miami struggled to find rhythm. Montreal’s Jonathan Sirois put in a stellar shift between the sticks, denying multiple chances including a sharp Jordi Alba strike that was pushed onto the post in the 15th minute. Sirois continued to frustrate Miami with brave interventions, darting off his line to snuff out dangerous opportunities from Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia.
But the breakthrough finally came in the 33rd minute when Messi, dropping deep into playmaker mode, teed up Allende just outside the box. The Argentine midfielder took two quick touches before firing home a thunderous equaliser.
Just seven minutes later, Messi produced a moment of pure magic. Collecting the ball near the right flank, he ghosted past five Montreal defenders in trademark fashion, weaving into the box with a combination of balance, control, and agility that left the home side frozen. Despite briefly losing control, Messi recovered quickly to smash a rising shot into the top right corner – a finish reminiscent of his prime years.
Segovia added to Montreal’s misery in the 60th minute with a piledriver from outside the box that kissed the underside of the crossbar before bouncing in, extending Miami’s lead to 3-1.
Then came Messi’s second. Picking the ball up near midfield, he again slalomed forward, shrugging off pressure before slipping into the box. A moment of chaos saw him lose the ball temporarily, but he was quickest to react, smashing the loose ball high into the net for his brace and sealing a dominant 4-1 win for Miami.
With this performance, Messi not only led his side to a third straight league victory but also delivered a highlight-reel moment that reignited comparisons to his younger self. At 38, Ankara Messi lives on – not in Barcelona blue, but in Miami pink.