CF Montréal enter the 2026 campaign in the midst of a full-blown crisis, and the early returns offer little encouragement. The Bleu-blanc-noir sit bottom of the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 26 matches, having suffered five consecutive league defeats and a humiliating 7-1 loss to Inter Miami that ranks among the most embarrassing results in club history. Interim head coach Philippe Eullaffroy, who replaced Marco Donadel after a disastrous start, has been candid about his squad’s limitations: “We are more reactive than proactive. It’s an aspect of our game where we are quite mediocre.” This is the definitive guide to the current CF Montréal squad.
Technical Leadership & Coaching Profile
Manager: Philippe Eullaffroy (Interim)
Tactical Philosophy: Eullaffroy has oscillated between a 4-2-3-1 and a 5-4-1, seeking a configuration that protects a defence that has conceded 51 goals in 26 matches, the fourth-worst record in MLS. The Frenchman’s tactical messaging has been brutally honest: “Our strength lies in collective effort, because sometimes we lack individual qualities; team effort is always required.” The interim coach has made numerous rotations due to a congested calendar, but certain players have been harder to replace than others, particularly Luca Petrasso on the left flank.
Preferred Formations: 4-2-3-1 / 5-4-1, with the capacity to shift based on opponent and game state.
Strategic Transfer Activity
Montréal’s summer was defined by urgent reinforcement rather than strategic planning. Sporting director Luca Saputo acknowledged the club’s historical reluctance to invest at the level required for sustained success, noting that the team had the cheapest payroll in MLS last season at just under $12 million. The summer additions were designed to address specific deficiencies, but the scale of the rebuild required is immense.
Table A: Summer Major Transfer Influx
| Player | Position | Former Club | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexis Sánchez | Forward | Free Agent | Designated Player |
| Dante Sealy | Midfielder | Colorado Rapids | $1.7m GAM |
| Dani Pereira | Midfielder | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Brayan Ceballos | Centre-Back | New England Revolution | Trade |
| Viktor Radojević | Centre-Back | Chicago Fire | Loan |
Alexis Sánchez was the marquee signing, the Chilean legend arriving as a Designated Player after an 18-year career in Europe that included spells at Arsenal, Barcelona, and Inter Milan. His impact has been minimal: no goals or assists in seven appearances, with just three substitute cameos totalling 69 minutes in his first weeks. Dante Sealy returned to Montréal after a career-best 2025 season with the club, having recorded nine goals and two assists in 30 MLS matches before a brief spell with Colorado. Dani Pereira and Brayan Ceballos were acquired to add steel to the midfield and defence respectively. Viktor Radojević arrived on loan from Chicago Fire as a further defensive option.
The First-Team Roster
Goalkeepers
Thomas Gillier (#31): The Chilean-born goalkeeper has been the first-choice option, starting 19 matches and accumulating 1,710 minutes. His 51 goals conceded reflect the defensive chaos in front of him, though he has made 45 saves. His three yellow cards underscore the pressure he has faced.
Sebastián Breza (#1): The Canadian goalkeeper provides experienced cover, earning $123,400 in supplemental roster compensation. He has made one league appearance.
Samsy Keita (#41): The 17-year-old Homegrown goalkeeper is the third-choice option and represents the club’s academy pathway, earning $102,637.
Emil Gazdov (#33): The young goalkeeper provides further depth.
Defenders
Luca Petrasso (#13): The 26-year-old left-back is the only outfield player to have started every match, accumulating 1,993 minutes across 23 appearances. His three assists demonstrate his attacking contribution, but the defensive burden on him has been immense. Earning $134,736 in supplemental compensation, Petrasso represents exceptional value for a player performing at his level.
Brayan Vera (#4): The Colombian centre-back has started 22 matches, contributing one goal and one assist. His five yellow cards and one red card illustrate the physical toll of defending in a struggling side.
Brayan Ceballos (#3): The Colombian centre-back arrived from New England Revolution, where he was the club’s defender of the year in 2025. His integration is expected to strengthen a back line that has conceded at a rate of 2.04 goals per game.
Dawid Bugaj (#27): The Polish defender has made 20 appearances, starting 16, and provides physical presence on the right flank.
Efrain Morales (#24): The Bolivian-born defender has started 13 matches, contributing two assists. His contract runs through December 2028.
Jalen Neal (#2): The U.S. international defender earns $756,250 as a U22 Initiative player and has made 14 appearances.
Viktor Radojević (#28): The Serbian defender arrived on loan from Chicago Fire, bringing experience from Red Star Belgrade’s academy and two UEFA Conference League starts.
Brandan Craig (#5): The American defender provides depth across the back line, earning $97,830 in supplemental compensation.
Bode Hidalgo (#19): The defender earns $320,800 and provides cover on the right flank.
Midfielders
Matty Longstaff (#8): The English midfielder is one of Montréal’s most consistent performers, accumulating 1,919 minutes across 24 appearances with two goals and three assists. His six yellow cards reflect his combative style, and his $435,859 salary represents good value.
Victor Loturi (#22): The Canadian midfielder has started 21 matches, contributing one goal and one assist. His $146,500 supplemental salary is exceptional value for a player with his minutes.
Samuel Piette (#6): The captain and longest-serving player at 31 years old, Piette has made 13 appearances this season. His $621,016 salary reflects his importance to the dressing room, and his five yellow cards illustrate his continued willingness to do the dirty work.
Wikelman Carmona (#16): The Venezuelan attacking midfielder is Montréal’s second-highest scorer with four goals and two assists in 23 appearances. His $555,000 salary makes him one of the squad’s better-value contributors.
Dante Sealy (#17): The Trinidad & Tobago international returned to Montréal after five assists in 20 games for Colorado. His familiarity with the club and versatility across multiple positions made his reintegration seamless.
Dani Pereira (#7): The Venezuelan midfielder arrived to strengthen the engine room, earning $793,750. His $2.50m market value makes him one of the squad’s more valuable assets.
Fabian Herbers (#21): The veteran German midfielder provides experience and tactical discipline, earning $440,000.
Gennadiy Synchuk (#18): The Ukrainian U22 Initiative midfielder earns $606,000 and represents a long-term investment, with a market value of €3 million.
Ivan Losenko (#26): The Ukrainian midfielder provides depth, earning $248,000.
Frankie Amaya (#25): The American midfielder earns $748,000 and has featured in the rotation.
Josh-Duc Nteziryayo (#36): The 17-year-old Homegrown midfielder earns $91,120 and represents the academy’s future.
Forwards
Prince Owusu (#9): The German striker is Montréal’s talisman and the primary source of goals. His 13 goals account for 43% of the team’s entire output, with six assists adding to his contribution. His five penalties converted from six attempts demonstrate his reliability from the spot. Earning $1,330,000 as a TAM player, Owusu’s 0.92 goal contributions per 90 minutes make him indispensable.
Alexis Sánchez (#10): The marquee signing has endured a difficult adaptation. The 38-year-old Chilean has yet to score or assist in seven appearances, and local media have questioned his influence: “He has not been influential.” Saputo has urged patience: “He helps us a lot off the field and in training too. He has only made one start and is coming off a long off-season.”
Daniel Ríos (#14): The Mexican forward has contributed four goals in 18 appearances, earning $237,066.
Sunusi Ibrahim (#28): The Nigerian forward provides depth through the middle.
Olger Escobar (#29): The 20-year-old Homegrown forward earns $93,421 and represents the academy pathway.
Owen Graham-Roache (#35): The 18-year-old Homegrown forward earns $93,915 and is a promising prospect.
Noah Streit (#23): The young forward has contributed one goal and one assist, with a market value of €600,000.
Leadership Group & Squad Regulations
Club Captain: Samuel Piette
The 31-year-old Canadian midfielder is the longest-serving player and the club’s on-field leader. His experience across 13 appearances this season, despite the team’s struggles, provides a reference point for younger players navigating the most difficult campaign in recent memory.
The Leadership Committee: Prince Owusu and Matty Longstaff provide leadership in the attacking and midfield thirds respectively. Owusu’s goalscoring output commands respect, while Longstaff’s combative style sets the tone in the engine room.
Homegrown Quota Check: Montréal’s academy pathway has produced Samsy Keita, Owen Graham-Roache, Aleksandr Guboglo, Olger Escobar, and Josh-Duc Nteziryayo as Homegrown signings. The club’s commitment to internal development is a rare positive in a season defined by failure.
Financial & Contractual Health
Financial Balance Overview: Montréal’s total cap allocation of $14,670,754 ranks 24th in MLS, and their historical reluctance to invest at the level required for sustained success remains the root cause of the current crisis. Saputo acknowledged the constraints: “We don’t want to add a designated player just to say we have two or three. It has to be a good addition.” The club still holds an unused Designated Player slot, but Saputo insists it will only be filled if the right player becomes available.
Contract Red Alerts: Alexis Sánchez’s contract runs through June 2027, and his ability to justify the Designated Player investment will determine whether Montréal exercise any extension options. Prince Owusu’s contract expires in June 2028, and his goalscoring form will attract interest if the club’s fortunes do not improve. The contracts of Fabian Herbers, Daniel Ríos, Matty Longstaff, Dante Sealy, Frankie Amaya, Victor Loturi, and Dawid Bugaj all expire in December 2026, giving Montréal significant flexibility to reshape the squad.
The Academy Pipeline & Loan Tracker
Breakout Talents to Watch: Samsy Keita, a 17-year-old goalkeeper, and Owen Graham-Roache, an 18-year-old forward, are the most prominent Homegrown signings, both earning supplemental roster compensation. Their development will be carefully managed as the club navigates its current crisis.
Notable Out on Loan: Specific loan departures are not detailed in available information.
Set-Piece Specialists & FPL Cheat Sheet
Penalties: Prince Owusu (First Choice). Owusu has converted five of six penalties this season and is the undisputed first-choice taker.
Direct Free-Kicks: Matty Longstaff / Wikelman Carmona.
Corners & Crosses: Luca Petrasso and Dante Sealy are the primary deliverers, with Matty Longstaff offering an alternative from central areas.
For Fantasy MLS managers, Prince Owusu is the only Montréal asset worth considering. His 13 goals and six assists, including penalty duties, make him one of the few reliable sources of points in a squad that has scored just 31 goals in 26 matches. Alexis Sánchez’s struggles make him a high-risk selection despite his pedigree. Thomas Gillier’s save volume, behind the fourth-worst defence in MLS, could yield points in systems that reward goalkeeping interventions, but the negative goal difference makes clean sheets unlikely.
Final Outlook: Navigating the Tactical Horizon
CF Montréal enter the final stretch of the 2026 season in a state of existential crisis. Second-to-last in the Eastern Conference with 21 points, the Bleu-blanc-noir have lost five consecutive matches and are running out of time to salvage their campaign. The 7-1 humiliation at Inter Miami was a nadir that exposed the structural failures that have plagued the club for years: chronic underinvestment, constant coaching turnover, and a roster lacking in overall quality.
The primary concern is not merely survival but identity. Montréal have used 12 coaches since joining MLS in 2012, and the lack of continuity has created a culture of instability that no single transfer window can repair. Eullaffroy’s interim tenure has produced moments of optimism, but the Frenchman’s own assessment of his squad’s “mediocrity” in key aspects of the game speaks to the scale of the challenge.
The attacking burden rests entirely on Prince Owusu’s shoulders. His 13 goals represent 43% of the team’s output, and no other player has reached double digits. If Owusu suffers an injury or loss of form, Montréal’s already fragile attack would collapse entirely. Sánchez’s inability to contribute has compounded the problem, and the Chilean’s patience with his own adaptation is being tested by a fanbase that expected a saviour.
The defensive record is the foundation of the crisis. Fifty-one goals conceded in 26 matches, an average of 2.04 per game, is simply unsustainable. Ceballos and Radojević were acquired to address this, but their integration has been slow and the structural issues run deeper than individual personnel.
Saputo remains publicly optimistic, insisting that the squad now has “all the ammunition” to compete for a playoff spot. The mathematics are not impossible: Montréal trail the final playoff place by six points with 11 matches remaining. But the performances suggest otherwise. If Owusu continues to score, if Sánchez finally delivers, and if the defensive additions stabilise the back line, Montréal have a chance. The margin is fine, but the foundation is crumbling.
