Full Breakdown
Messi’s Four-Goal Masterclass Propels Inter Miami Past Montreal
8/30/2026, 8:12:13 AM
The Match: Four Goals, 7-1 Victory
On August 29, Inter Miami hosted CF Montreal at Miami’s Nu Stadium. The Argentine forward Lionel Messi scored four times—two from free kicks (40´ and stoppage-time), a solo effort in the 52´, and a delicate chip in the 83´—and supplied the assist for Luis Suárez’s goal. Miami added three additional goals (Casemiro, 20´; Suarez, 80´; rookie Alexander Shaw, 89´) to secure a 7-1 win, snapping a five-game winless run across all competitions.
Background & Context
Inter Miami had not won an Major League Soccer (MLS) match since July 25, when a victory ended a similar slump. The club entered the Montreal game amid off-field turbulence: interim coach Guillermo Hoyos was suspended for violating MLS’s Late Kickoff Policy, and the team awaited work-permit clearance for newly hired permanent coach Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez. The win therefore represented both a tactical and morale boost.
Data & Statistics
- Messi’s season tally: 18 goals in 19 games, placing him atop the MLS Golden Boot race.
- Historical note: This was the eighth occasion in Messi’s career that he scored four or more goals in a single match; his previous four-goal haul came with Barcelona against Eibar in February 2020.
- MLS record: Messi became the fastest player to reach 20 multigoal games, achieving the mark in 72 appearances.
- Team impact: Inter Miami moved to 42 points (12-4-6), remaining second in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind leaders Nashville SC. Montreal fell to 14th place, second-to-last in the same conference.
- Goal distribution: Miami’s seven goals were spread among five players; Messi was directly involved in five (four scored, one assisted).
Official Statements & Responses
Inter Miami’s interim coach Guillermo Hoyos, watching from a skybox, described the result as “huge for everyone,” emphasizing its importance for the players, the club’s effort, and the broader objectives of the season.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The significance of this victory is huge for everyone,” — Guillermo Hoyos, miami interim coach
On-the-Ground Reports
The match opened with Casemiro heading in a corner from Telasco Segovia in the 20´, giving Miami an early lead. Montreal equalized through Fabian Herbers (37´) before Messi’s first free-kick goal restored the advantage (40´). After a second-half surge, Messi’s solo strike (52´) extended the lead to 3-1. He later set up Suarez with a lobbed pass (80´) and completed his hat-trick by chipping the goalkeeper (83´). A final free-kick in stoppage time sealed the fourth goal, capping a dominant performance.
