Some nights in Major League Soccer feel routine. Saturday night at Nu Stadium was not one of them. Inter Miami dismantled CF Montreal 7-1 in the most emphatic scoreline of their MLS history, and at the heart of it all was Lionel Messi delivering the first four-goal performance of his MLS career. If anyone needed a reminder of what Messi still brings to this league, Miami’s rout provided it in unforgettable fashion.
From a Nervy Start to a Complete Demolition
The match did not open the way the final score suggests. Casemiro broke the deadlock in the 20th minute to hand Miami an early lead.
But CF Montreal responded through Fabian Herbers in the 37th minute to level things at 1-1 heading toward halftime. For a moment, it looked like another tightly contested MLS night. Then Inter Miami flipped a switch, and Montreal never recovered.
Messi Turns the Game Into a Masterclass
What followed was pure theater. Messi restored Miami’s lead in the 40th minute with a deflected free kick that snuck past the goalkeeper, then doubled his tally in the 52nd minute with a mesmerizing solo run finished with ice-cold composure.
Not content with a brace, the Argentine superstar turned provider next, setting up Luis Suarez before completing his own hat trick with a delicate chip over the keeper just seven minutes from full time.
As if that were not enough, Messi capped the performance deep into stoppage time with a trademark curling free kick, sealing his fourth goal of the match and pushing Inter Miami’s tally to seven unanswered second-half goals.
The result marked Messi’s first four-goal outing since arriving in MLS and vaulted him to the top of the league’s Golden Boot race, reportedly pushing his season total to 18 goals and moving him clear of the chasing pack.
Teammates and Fans React
The dressing room reaction said as much as the scoreline. Miami midfielder Casemiro told Apple TV after the match that moments like these are simply what happens when Messi is on the team, adding that the squad’s job is to enjoy it, keep competing alongside him, and recognize they are watching history in real time.
Social media lit up just as fast. Fans flooded X with reactions ranging from disbelief to pure celebration, with one popular post joking that Messi looked like he was playing on easy mode, while another declared it was simply what the greatest of all time does. Even neutral accounts covering the league noted that a four-goal, one-assist night from Messi, backed by contributions from Suarez and Casemiro, felt less like a single result and more like a message sent to the rest of MLS.
What This Win Means for Inter Miami
Beyond the individual brilliance, the 7-1 victory snapped a winless run for Inter Miami and delivered a much-needed statement result as the club pushes toward the postseason. Seven goals is the most Miami has ever scored in a single match, and doing it with this kind of attacking firepower sends a clear warning to Eastern Conference rivals that this team is far from finished this season.
With Messi now leading the Golden Boot race and the attack finding fresh confidence, Inter Miami will hope Saturday’s explosion at Nu Stadium marks the turning point in their campaign.
