Lionel Messi is rolling back the years with a four-goal championship run for Inter Miami

Lionel Messi rolled back the years with a stunning four-goal masterclass as Inter Miami ended their five-match winless run across all competitions with a 7-1 defeat of Montreal in Major League Soccer on Saturday night.

Messi scored four goals in an MLS game for the first time in his career, taking his tally to 18 for the season and moving into first place in the Golden Boot race. He struck shortly before half-time, added another in the 52nd minute and completed his hat-trick in the 83rd before curling home a free-kick deep into stoppage time.

The feat marked the ninth time in Messi’s professional career that he has scored at least four goals in a single game.

The Argentine’s four-goal haul also moved him ahead of Dallas’ Petar Musa, who has 16 goals this season, in the MLS Golden Boot standings. Musa and Dallas will face St. Louis City SC.

Inter Miami secured three key points to improve to 12-4-6 with 42 points, while Montreal’s four-game unbeaten run in league play came to an emphatic end.

Casemiro, Luis Suarez and rookie Alexander Shaw were also on the scoresheet for Miami.

Casemiro opened the scoring in the 20th minute, heading home from Telasco Segovia’s corner. Montreal responded in the 37th minute when Fabian Herbers put a shot past Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair after Noah Streit singled him off in the top of the sixteen.

Messi restored Miami’s lead just three minutes later when he bent a free kick just wide of the near post before Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier could react.

His second goal in the 52nd minute was undoubtedly the best choice. Messi weaved between three defenders before finding the back of the net to put Miami firmly in control.

Luis Suarez added the fourth in the 80th minute from a counterattack, Messi completed the hat trick three minutes later. Shaw then scored in the 89th minute of his third MLS appearance before Messi capped a memorable night with another free kick in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Inter Miami assistant coach Rafael Perez was in charge of the match, Guillermo Hoyos watched from the skybox in the stadium. Hoyos was suspended after multiple violations of MLS’s late kick-off policy in recent games.

Hoyos is expected to be replaced by Argentine Kily Gonzalez, who was hired this week but is still awaiting the necessary paperwork to join the team in the United States.

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

30 Aug 2026 09:29 IST