Lionel Messi scored four goals and provided an assist as Inter Miami defeated Montreal 7-1 at NU Stadium in Miami, taking the Argentine forward to the top of the Major League Soccer goalscoring charts with 18 goals for the season.
The dominant victory came while Inter Miami were awaiting the arrival of incoming head coach Cristian 'Kily' González, who is pending visa clearance before officially taking charge. Interim coach Guillermo Hoyos remained on the bench to oversee the South Florida club.
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro opened the scoring for Inter Miami, heading home from a corner kick to put the hosts in front. Fabian Herbers quickly equalised for Montreal, but the visitors could not halt Miami's attacking momentum.
Messi restored Miami's lead in the 39th minute with a direct free kick. Montreal's Chilean goalkeeper Thomas Gillier was unable to keep the strike out, though he might have done more to prevent the goal.
Dominant Second Half Display
Early in the second half, Messi doubled his tally with a slalom run through the penalty area before finishing to make it 3-1. The captain then turned provider, setting up Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez to score Miami's fourth goal of the match.
Montreal gifted Miami a fifth goal following a mistake while trying to play the ball out from the back, allowing Messi to collect possession and lob Gillier with a delicate chip. 18-year-old Alexander Shaw added a sixth goal for Miami with a long-range shot from outside the penalty area.
With the contest effectively decided, Messi completed his four-goal performance late in the match. The forward struck another direct free kick from the front of the penalty box, curling the ball past Gillier and off the post to wrap up the 7-1 win.
League Results and Debut Appearances
Chilean forward Alexis Sánchez made his debut appearance as a new signing for Montreal, playing the final 30 minutes of the match without making a significant impact on the scoreline.
In other MLS action, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski recorded his fifth goal in a Chicago Fire shirt during a 2-2 draw away against Seattle Sounders. Lewandowski also registered an assist in the match.
Background: Star Players and Management Context
Messi, who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina and holds eight Ballon d'Or awards, joined Inter Miami in Major League Soccer following successful stints at European clubs Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Scoring four goals in a single match, known in Spanish football as a póquer, moved him to the summit of the MLS golden boot race with 18 goals.
Suárez, a long-time international teammate with Uruguay, previously formed a formidable attacking partnership with Messi at Barcelona before reuniting in South Florida. Inter Miami's squad also features Casemiro, who won five UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid before moving to Manchester United and subsequently joining MLS.
Incoming manager Cristian 'Kily' González is a former Argentine international winger who represented Valencia and Inter Milan during his playing career. He is set to take over management of Inter Miami once administrative visa requirements are completed, following Hoyos' temporary stint on the sidelines.
Montreal's high-profile recruit Sánchez previously played for European teams including Barcelona, Arsenal, and Inter Milan, and has won two Copa América titles with the Chilean national team. Lewandowski, who spent prolific seasons at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, represents Chicago Fire as part of an expanding roster of international stars competing in North America's top division.
