Messi Scores Four as Inter Miami Crush Montreal 7-1
Inter Miami produced one of its most impressive performances of the MLS season, defeating Montreal 7-1 at Nu Stadium in the league’s 22nd round. Lionel Messi was the undisputed star of the night, scoring four times and playing a decisive role in a result that strengthened Miami’s position near the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Argentine forward found the net in the 40th, 52nd, 83rd and sixth minute of stoppage time. His final goal completed a remarkable individual display and underlined his influence on Inter Miami’s attacking play.
Messi’s first goal arrived in the 40th minute, helping the home side regain control after Montreal had threatened to remain competitive. The visitors had briefly reduced the gap when Fabian Herbers scored in the 37th minute, but that response did not prevent Miami from taking command before halftime.
Inter Miami extended its advantage in the second half. Messi struck again in the 52nd minute, before Luis Suarez added another goal in the 80th minute. Messi completed his hat-trick three minutes later, while Alexander Shaw made it 6-1 in the 89th minute. The Argentine then scored once more deep into stoppage time to seal the emphatic victory.
Casemiro also contributed to the home side’s success, scoring in the 20th minute. With goals from Casemiro, Suarez, Shaw and Messi, Inter Miami demonstrated the depth of its attacking options and maintained relentless pressure throughout the match.
Messi moves to the top of the scoring chart
The four-goal performance took Messi’s season tally to 18. At the age of 39, he moved ahead of Petar Musa, Dallas’ striker, who had scored 16 goals. Messi’s latest display therefore had importance beyond the match itself, placing him at the summit of the MLS scoring race.
His contribution was not limited to finishing opportunities. Messi repeatedly helped create attacking moves, combined effectively with his teammates and forced Montreal’s defense to retreat for long periods. Once Inter Miami began creating space between the lines, the visitors struggled to contain the home team’s passing and movement.
The result also highlighted the understanding between Messi and Luis Suarez. Their partnership continues to provide Inter Miami with experience and quality in the final third. While Messi supplied the headline performance, Suarez’s goal added further evidence that Miami can threaten opponents through several attacking routes.
Inter Miami keeps pressure on the conference leader
With the victory, Inter Miami raised its total to 42 points and remained second in the Eastern Conference. The club is 10 points behind Nashville, which leads the standings. Although the gap remains significant, a seven-goal victory gives Miami valuable momentum at an important stage of the campaign.
For Montreal, the defeat represented another difficult result. The Canadian side stayed on 21 points and remained 14th in the conference. Conceding seven goals exposed serious defensive weaknesses, particularly after Inter Miami increased the tempo following halftime.
The match also showed how quickly the balance can change in MLS. Montreal managed to score once and briefly challenge the hosts, but Miami’s attacking quality eventually proved overwhelming. Once Messi restored the home side’s advantage, Inter Miami controlled the rhythm and turned the contest into a one-sided affair.
A statement performance before the decisive phase of the season
Large victories can have an important psychological effect during the long MLS schedule. For Inter Miami, the win offers confidence to the entire squad and reinforces the belief that the team can compete for the conference’s highest positions.
Messi’s form will be especially important in the coming fixtures. His ability to score from open play, finish in the penalty area and produce decisive actions late in matches gives Inter Miami a major advantage. The four-goal display against Montreal also confirmed that he remains capable of deciding games even at this stage of his career.
The victory was therefore more than a routine three-point result. It combined an outstanding individual performance with a powerful collective display, improved Miami’s goal difference and kept the club firmly involved in the race near the top of the Eastern Conference. Montreal, meanwhile, will need to respond quickly and strengthen its defensive organization after one of its heaviest defeats of the season.