Football often runs out of superlatives when Lionel Messi takes to the pitch, yet the legendary Argentine continues to redefine the boundaries of sporting brilliance. In a breathtaking display at Chase Stadium, the veteran forward delivered a masterclass, netting four goals to propel Inter Miami to a historic 7-1 victory over CF Montreal. This emphatic triumph marks the largest margin of victory in the club’s history, snapping a frustrating five-match winless streak across all competitions and injecting fresh momentum into their Major League Soccer campaign.
Entering the fixture, the atmosphere surrounding the Miami camp was laced with uncertainty. The squad had been navigating a turbulent patch without a permanent manager following recent administrative shuffles. Although the club announced Cristian ‘Killy’ González as their new head coach earlier in the week, work permit delays kept him off the touchline. Compounding matters, interim coach Guillermo Hoyos was serving a touchline suspension, leaving assistant coach Rafael Pérez to steer the ship alongside the players on the pitch. Yet, any internal anxieties dissolved the moment Messi seized control of the game.
The scoring onslaught began in the 40th minute when Messi curled a trademark free-kick that deflected off the goalkeeper’s body and into the net. Minutes into the second half, in the 52nd minute, he doubled his tally with a trademark solo run, slicing through the Montreal defence before slotting home. His playmaking vision was equally potent, setting up strike partner Luis Suárez for a clinical goal. As the match neared its conclusion, Messi completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute with a delicate chip over the advancing custodian. Not finished yet, he capped off the evening deep into stoppage time with another exquisite free-kick tucked neatly into the top corner, securing his fourth of the night.
The milestone performance represents the eighth time in Messi’s illustrious career that he has scored four or more goals in a single match, and his first since arriving in Major League Soccer. His previous four-goal haul came back in February 2020 during his Barcelona days against Spanish club Eibar. With this latest scoring burst, Messi has climbed to the summit of the MLS goalscoring charts, tallying 18 goals from just 19 appearances, edging past FC Dallas forward Petar Musa.
The match also featured significant milestones for other squad members. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who joined the franchise during the summer transfer window, opened his scoring account for the club with a well-taken finish. Youngster Alexander Shaw capped off the evening by netting the team’s seventh goal in the 89th minute, underlining the depth of the squad.
The victory solidifies Inter Miami’s position second in the Eastern Conference standings, sitting just behind table-toppers Nashville SC. Meanwhile, CF Montreal languishes near the bottom of the table in fourteenth place, reeling from the defensive collapse. For Miami, the resounding victory serves as a timely reminder of their championship credentials as the season heads towards its decisive final stretch.
