Inter Miami CF produced a stunning display at Nu Stadium on Saturday, dismantling CF Montréal 7-1 in a commanding MLS performance.
The star of the show was unmistakably Lionel Messi, who scored four goals in an extraordinary individual performance that left fans stunned.
The result was comprehensive from start to finish, with Inter Miami never allowing their opponents a foothold after the opening exchanges of the match.
Messi opened his account in the 40th minute, stepping up to take a free kick from the right side of the penalty box with trademark composure.
The 39-year-old Argentine superstar curled the ball into an arc that bounced past goalkeeper Thomas Gillier and nestled into the right corner of the net.
That strike gave Inter Miami a 2-1 lead and set the tone for a second half that would become all about one man’s relentless brilliance.
Shortly after the interval, Messi struck again in the 52nd minute, dribbling dazzlingly through a series of defenders right up to the goal area before striking the ball into the net.
That goal, his 16th of the 2026 MLS season at that point, temporarily tied him at the top of the scoring charts with Petar Musa of FC Dallas.
By the time the full-time whistle blew, Messi had completed his four-goal haul, pushing his season tally to 18 goals and extending his lead at the top of the league’s scoring standings.
The performance inevitably drew comparisons to some of the finest individual displays in MLS history, with the record for goals in a single game belonging to Clint Mathis.
Mathis scored five goals for the MetroStars, now known as the New York Red Bulls, in a 6-4 victory over the Dallas Burn, now FC Dallas, back in 2000.
While Messi fell one short of that historic record, his four-goal haul stands among the most celebrated individual contributions in recent MLS memory.
The achievement carries additional emotional weight, coming weeks after the passing of Messi’s father on August 8, making his return to form all the more remarkable.
Inter Miami’s 7-1 thrashing of Montréal serves as a powerful statement of intent, with Messi leading the charge as the league’s most dominant attacking force this season.
