Inter Miami's Lionel Messi earns first MLS Player of the Matchday for 2025 season after stellar performance in 4-2 win over CF Montreal

Inter Miami CF v CF Montréal

The Argentine superstar was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday for Matchday 16

Inter Miami CF v CF Montréal

WHAT HAPPENED

Lionel Messi delivered a standout performance in Inter Miami's 4-2 victory over CF Montréal on Wednesday evening, scoring two goals and providing an assist to end his team's four-match winless streak. The Argentine opened the scoring with a left-footed strike from outside the box in the 27th minute, assisted on another goal, and then capped his performance with a sublime chip in the 87th minute after a give-and-go with Luis Suárez. This display earned Messi his first Player of the Matchday award of the 2025 season and his seventh overall since joining MLS.

WATCH MESSI'S HIGHLIGHTS

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The recognition continues to cement Messi's dominance in MLS, coming after a historic 2024 season when he won the weekly honor six times, tying the league record for most Player of the Matchday awards in a player's first full season. Not only that, his performance makes him the first player in club history to reach 50 goal contributions in regular-season play, achieving the milestone in just 37 games with 29 goals and 21 assists.

Messi now has eight goals and three assists this season.

Inter Miami CF v CF Montréal

WHAT’S NEXT?

Inter Miami will look to build on this momentum when they host the Columbus Crew on May 31 at Chase Stadium. With Messi in peak form, scoring in back-to-back games for the fourth time across all competitions this year, the Herons will aim to continue their climb up the Eastern Conference standings before shifting focus to their historic Club World Cup appearance in mid-June.