MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JULY 25: Medics carry German Berterame #19 of Inter Miami CF into an ambulance after suffering an injury during the MLS match between CF Montreal and Inter Miami CF at Saputo Stadium on July 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Tim Austen/Getty Images)
Tim Austen
Getty Images
Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul remain on holiday after the World Cup, but there has been plenty of Inter Miami news in their absence.
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who signed with the club last week after four seasons with Manchester United, made his debut in Saturday’s 1-0 road win over Montreal FC. He played 90-plus minutes and made an immediate impact with 77 touches and nine passes into the final third.
Luis Suarez continued to carry the team, scoring the lone goal for Miami in the 81st minute, his sixth goal over the past three games. The 39-year-old Uruguayan scored a hat trick in the 6-4 win over Philadelphia just before the World Cup break and had a brace in the 3-2 win over Chicago in the first game after the tournament hiatus.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JULY 25: Casemiro #5 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball during the MLS match between CF Montreal and Inter Miami CF at Saputo Stadium on July 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Tim Austen/Getty Images) Tim Austen Getty Images
Despite the win against Montreal, which extended Miami’s win streak to six games, there was not much celebrating from the team or its fans due to a mid-air collision late in the game that resulted in striker German Berterame exiting the field in an ambulance.
Berterame jumped to challenge Montreal center back Efraín Morales for a header, then fell hard after taking a blow to the head. Players quickly called for medical help as Berterame appeared to convulse before lying motionless. An ambulance drove onto the field and Berterame was taken to Montreal General Hospital, where he stayed overnight before heading back to South Florida.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JULY 25: Yannick Bright #42 of Inter Miami CF calls for medical treatment for German Berterame #19 during the MLS match between CF Montreal and Inter Miami CF at Saputo Stadium on July 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) Minas Panagiotakis Getty Images
Inter Miami released an update on Berterame’s condition on Sunday.
“Berterame is doing well,” said the release. “He sustained injuries to his left shoulder and nose as a result of the hard blow he suffered during the match. He will begin the corresponding recovery process in the coming days under the supervision of the club’s medical staff.”
No timeline was given for his return.
Berterame thanked fans for their concern and support in an Instagram post on Monday. It read: “First and foremost, I want to thank God because today I can say I’m okay. Now, it’s time to recover with ease, be patient and prepare to come back in the best way possible. I also want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for every message, every call and every prayer. The love I received was overwhelming, and both my family and I felt very supported.”
Suarez scored on a penalty kick and dedicated the winning goal to Berterame.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JULY 25: Luis Suárez #9 of Inter Miami CF celebrates scoring his team’s first goal holding teammate’s German Berterame #19 jersey who suffered an injury during the MLS match between CF Montreal and Inter Miami CF at Saputo Stadium on July 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) Minas Panagiotakis Getty Images
At the midpoint of the MLS regular season, Inter Miami is in second place in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters Shield race with 37 points, two points short of leader Nashville SC.
The MLS All-Star Game is being played Wednesday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (8 p.m., Apple TV). Messi is skipping it for the second year in a row, but this time, he will not be fined or suspended.
Because he played in the World Cup Final on July 19, MLS and the MLS Players Association agreed to excuse him and teammate Rodrigo De Paul so they could have a mandated rest period.
“Prior to the start of the 2026 season, Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association agreed that upon a player’s exit from the World Cup competition, clubs would have individual conversations with each player to determine the appropriate rest and return to training and competition timeline,” read an MLS statement.
“Consistent with that agreement, Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi will be excused from participating in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game.”
Last summer, Messi and Jordi Alba missed the game without prior league approval and were handed mandatory one-game suspensions.
Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright was added to the All-Star Game roster as the club’s lone representative. Bright, a native of Italy and college draft pick in 2024 from the University of New Hampshire, has become a key member of Inter Miami’s roster, blending in with global stars with far more experience.
This season, he has started all but one game. Bright also dedicates more time to community service than most players on the team, always present for school and hospital visits and sponsor events.
“I feel honored, it is a privilege to be named among the best players in the league,” Bright said. “I’m grateful for my teammates and the coaches. There’s no individual awards without team effort, so I owe everything to them. It was a nice surprise [to be named to the All-Star roster]. It’s going to be a day of celebration for all the players’ efforts they make throughout the season.”
The next Inter Miami game is Saturday at home at Nu Stadium against the Columbus Crew. Miami could have an extremely thin roster if Messi and De Paul remain out. Berterame will miss the game, Maxi Falcon and Gonzalo Lujan are questionable with calf strains, and Ian Fray and Telasco Segovia are suspended for yellow card accumulation.
After this weekend, MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX teams turn their attention to the Leagues Cup tournament. Inter Miami plays its three group stage games at home, Aug. 5 against San Luis, Aug. 8 against Monterrey and Aug. 12 against Leon.
Looking ahead, Inter Miami will face Mexican team Cruz Azul on Sept. 16 at Nu Stadium in the 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup, a single-game competition between the defending MLS champion and the 2026 Liga MX Clausura champion. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. through TicketMaster.
Hyundai and Inter Miami announce partnership
Inter Miami and Hyundai Motor America on Tuesday announced a multi-year partnership naming Hyundai the Club’s Official Mainstream Automotive Partner, an Official Partner of Inter Miami CF, and a Founding Partner of Miami Freedom Park.
As part of the partnership, Hyundai will receive prominent brand integration across Nu Stadium and Miami Freedom Park. The East Club at Nu Stadium will be named the Hyundai Club. Hyundai will also serve as the entitlement partner of the Hyundai Garage.
The partnership will also connect on-field performance with community impact. For every Inter Miami goal scored during the regular season, Hyundai will donate to Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Hyundai’s nonprofit organization dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research and supporting children and families affected by pediatric cancer.
This story was originally published July 28, 2026 at 3:43 PM.
Miami Herald
Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman has covered 14 Olympics, six World Cups, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, NCAA Basketball Tournaments, NBA Playoffs, Super Bowls and has been the soccer writer and University of Miami basketball beat writer for 25 years. She was born in Frederick, Md., and grew up in Miami.