Lionel Messi scores four goals as Inter Miami defeats CF Montreal 7-1 to end winless run

First-half lead and response

Inter Miami halted a five-match winless run on Saturday night with a 7-1 home victory over CF Montreal in Major League Soccer. Miami had entered the fixture with one win in seven matches across all competitions since Lionel Messi returned from the World Cup earlier in August. Midfielder Carlos Casimiro opened the scoring in the 20th minute, heading in a corner kick taken by Telasco Segovia. The strike was Casimiro's first goal in six MLS appearances, while Segovia registered his ninth assist of the season. CF Montreal equalized in the 37th minute through Fabian Herbers, who netted his first goal of the campaign. Three minutes later, Messi gave Miami a 2-1 lead with a 40th-minute free kick that deflected off Montreal defender Luca Petrasso before entering the net.

Second-half scoring run

Miami controlled the second half with five unanswered goals. Messi scored his second goal of the match in the 52nd minute following a solo run through Montreal's defense to make the score 3-1. In the 80th minute, Luis Suárez scored his 11th MLS goal of the season after receiving an assist from Messi, which was Messi's 10th assist of the league campaign. Messi scored his third goal in the 83rd minute with a lofted chip over Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier. Alexander Shaw, an 18-year-old rookie playing in his third MLS match, made it 6-1 in the 89th minute with his first career league goal in 37 total minutes of play. In the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, Messi completed the scoring with an 18-to-20-meter free kick over the wall.

He is constantly looking for that goal, that play, that pass; I don't think he's an ordinary footballer. Analysing him, both as a player and as a person, goes so deep that you run out of words.

Individual milestones and top scorer race

The match was Messi's first four-goal performance in Major League Soccer and the ninth four-goal game of his career. The four goals raised Messi's league tally to 18 goals in the 2026 MLS season, moving him past Petar Musa of FC Dallas, who held 16 goals prior to the weekend. In all competitions during 2026, Messi reached 20 goals and 11 assists. Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair concluded the match with three saves, while Montreal goalkeeper Gillier recorded five saves against Miami's eleven shots on target. The result was Miami's fifth consecutive victory against Montreal, following a 1-0 road win at the end of July.

Eastern Conference standings and coaching update

The victory moved Inter Miami's league record to 12 wins, 4 losses, and 6 draws (42 points), concluding August with a 1-2-2 league record. Miami remains in second place in the Eastern Conference, trailing conference leader Nashville SC by 10 points after Nashville defeated FC Cincinnati 4-0 on Saturday. CF Montreal holds a 5-11-6 record, sitting in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference. Miami played the match following the departure of head coach Guillermo Hoyos, whose exit was announced on Thursday. Argentine coach Cristian "Kily" González was appointed as his replacement, though González did not take the sideline on Saturday while awaiting his official work permit. Inter Miami will host Atlanta United in their next match on Saturday, while Montreal travels to play Philadelphia Union.