Inter Miami erases 2-goal deficit to beat Montreal as Messi arrives in Canada

Benjamin Cremaschi scored the go-ahead goal in the 59th minute, and Inter Miami CF erased a two-goal deficit to defeat CF Montreal 3-2 in Lionel Messi's first professional match in Canada on Saturday.

Messi — considered by many as the greatest footballer ever — was held off the scoresheet despite being in scorching hot form in Major League Soccer.

The 36-year-old entered the match with 10 goals and 12 assists in eight league games after a record-setting one-goal, five-assist showing in a 6-2 win over New York Red Bulls last week.

The Argentine superstar took the American soccer scene by storm last year with his move from Europe to Miami, and "Messi Mania" flocked north of the border on Saturday.

An announced sellout crowd of 19,619 spectators — including one dressed in Messi tracksuit and wearing a mask of a goat mask — took in the event. The match featured loud chants of "Messi! Messi! Messi!" throughout the evening.

Messi was joined by fellow former FC Barcelona stars Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets in the starting lineup.

Suarez scored his league-leading 11th goal of the season and Matias Rojas also scored as league-leading Miami (8-2-3) won its fifth straight game. Rojas also had an assist.

Jules-Anthony Vilsaint — with a goal and assist — and Bryce Duke replied for Montreal (3-5-3), which dropped points for the fourth consecutive MLS match. Montreal is 11th in the Eastern Conference. The club played its first match since officially parting ways with sporting officer Olivier Renard on Thursday.

Montreal defeated Miami 3-2 on the road on March 10 amid a hot start to the season, but Messi didn't play.

After Suarez and Rojas scored late in the first half, Cremaschi put the visitors ahead 3-2, sliding into the ball and