Inter Miami have experienced some challenges as of late, but in the early hours of Thursday morning, Lionel Messi guided them to victory against Montreal. The match also saw former Leeds United academy product, Tom Pearce, start for the Canadian side. Despite Inter Miami’s current sixth place standing, Messi and Luis Suarez’s goals secured a 4-2 win for the David Beckham-owned team.
Last season, Inter Miami finished on top of the Eastern Conference, logging an impressive 74 points from 34 games, although they fell short of clinching the MLS Cup. This season, however, things have been different as they have struggled to find their form, going winless in their last four games and conceding a total of 13 goals. The win against Montreal brought some much-needed relief to Javier Mascherano’s men as they approached the halfway mark of the MLS season.
Tom Pearce, now 27, originally joined Leeds United’s academy after spending time in Everton’s youth system since the age of five. Despite making just 10 senior appearances for Leeds, Pearce went on loan to Scunthorpe United before joining Wigan Athletic for a six-figure fee. Pearce enjoyed over 100 appearances for Wigan before becoming a free agent and eventually making a surprising move to the MLS.
A former England U21 international, Pearce has faced challenges with injuries along the way, hindering his ability to fully realize his potential. Now, in the MLS, Pearce is eager to prove himself and showcase his skills on a new stage, away from the challenges and setbacks he experienced in his previous footballing endeavours.
