Lionel Messi produced his first four-goal performance in Major League Soccer as Inter Miami defeated CF Montréal 7-1 at Nu Stadium, the largest winning margin in the Florida club's history.
The 39-year-old scored twice from free kicks, added a brilliant solo goal and completed his hat-trick with a delicate chip. He also assisted Luis Suárez during a five-goal contribution that moved him to the top of the 2026 MLS Golden Boot race.
The performance came immediately before Messi announced his retirement from international football with Argentina. That timing makes the result especially significant: while his national-team career is over, his display against Montréal demonstrated that his club career with Inter Miami remains very active.
Inter Miami vs CF Montréal: match summary
- Final score: Inter Miami 7-1 CF Montréal
- Date: August 29, 2026
- Venue: Nu Stadium, Miami
- Messi: Four goals and one assist
- Other Miami scorers: Casemiro, Luis Suárez and Alexander Shaw
- Montréal scorer: Fabian Herbers
- Miami record: Largest margin of victory in club history
- Messi's MLS total: 18 regular-season goals
- Next match: Inter Miami vs Atlanta United on September 5
The win ended Inter Miami's five-game winless run across all competitions. Miami improved to 12 wins, four losses and six draws for 42 points, while a spectacular second-half surge transformed a competitive first period into a historic rout.
How the seven goals happened
20th minute: Casemiro scores his first Inter Miami goal
Casemiro opened the scoring with a header from the centre of the penalty area. Telasco Segovia delivered the corner from the left, recording his ninth assist of the season, and the Brazilian midfielder powered the ball home.
It was Casemiro's first goal in Inter Miami colours after joining the club in July. The finish also offered a reminder of the aerial threat he developed during his years with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Brazil.
37th minute: Montréal equalise
Fabian Herbers brought CF Montréal level, briefly threatening to extend Miami's difficult run. At 1-1, the match remained open and the home side needed a response before halftime.
40th minute: Messi's first free kick
Messi restored Miami's lead three minutes later. From the right side, he struck a direct free kick that beat goalkeeper Thomas Gillier and took his regular-season total to 15 goals.
The timing changed the match. Instead of entering halftime frustrated after surrendering the lead, Miami went into the interval ahead with Messi beginning to control the contest.
52nd minute: solo goal through three defenders
Messi's second was the standout individual goal of the night. He carried the ball through a crowd, left three Montréal defenders behind and finished from the right side of the box.
The goal showed that his impact was not limited to set pieces. Even at 39, his close control and balance allowed him to navigate a packed defensive area and create a shot where no obvious route appeared available.
80th minute: Messi assists Suárez
Luis Suárez made it 4-1 at the end of a fast break. Messi played a precisely weighted pass into his longtime teammate's path, and Suárez finished from inside the area.
The assist was Messi's 10th of the MLS regular season, while Suárez moved to 11 goals. Their understanding, developed over years together at Barcelona and continued in Miami, was visible again as one player recognised the other's run immediately.
83rd minute: Messi completes the hat-trick
Messi reached three goals with a controlled chip over Gillier. The finish combined awareness and touch: he saw the goalkeeper's position early and lifted the ball rather than trying to force a powerful shot through him.
It was Messi's first MLS hat-trick of the night—but the scoring was not finished.
89th minute: Alexander Shaw's first senior goal
Inter Miami academy product Alexander Shaw scored his first goal for the club's first team and his first in MLS. His strike added a development success story to a night dominated by global stars.
90+6th minute: Messi's second free kick
Messi completed the 7-1 scoreline with another direct free kick in stoppage time. The goal was his fourth of the match and his 18th of the regular season, taking him into the lead in the MLS Golden Boot race.
Messi's complete match numbers
Four goals and an assist meant Messi directly contributed to five of Miami's seven goals. It was the first time he had scored four goals in an MLS match and one of the most productive single-game performances of his Inter Miami career.
His goals also displayed four different solutions:
- A free kick from the right
- A solo dribble and finish
- A chip over the goalkeeper
- A second free kick in stoppage time
That variety explains why Miami interim coach Guillermo Hoyos said words fell short when trying to describe the performance. Messi did not simply accumulate goals after the result was settled; he restored the lead at 1-1, created separation after halftime and then punished Montréal late.
Messi takes the MLS Golden Boot lead
Messi finished the night with 18 regular-season goals, moving to the top of the league's scoring chart. He also had 10 assists, giving him 28 direct goal contributions in league play.
The Golden Boot race remains open, with multiple matches still to be played. However, Messi's four-goal jump puts him in a powerful position and strengthens his case for further individual recognition after winning the MLS Landon Donovan MVP and Golden Boot awards in the previous season.
MLS named him Player of the Matchday for the third time in the 2026 regular season. He was also selected for the Team of the Matchday alongside Casemiro, marking Messi's ninth inclusion of the campaign.
Why this result mattered for Inter Miami
The scale of the win mattered as much as the individual performance. Inter Miami entered the match without a victory in five games across all competitions. A 7-1 response restored confidence and created the biggest victory margin in club history.
There were positive contributions across the squad:
- Casemiro scored his first Miami goal.
- Suárez reached 11 league goals.
- Segovia recorded his ninth assist.
- Shaw scored his first senior goal.
- The attack produced six unanswered goals after Montréal equalised.
The defensive structure will still face stronger tests, but the result showed what Miami can do when its senior attackers find space and the midfield supplies them quickly.
Messi's international retirement does not end his club career
Two days after the match, Messi announced that he was leaving the Argentina national team. He did not retire from professional football.
Messi is contracted to Inter Miami through the end of the 2028 MLS season. The separation between the two decisions is important: he will no longer travel for Argentina camps or play international tournaments, but he remains available for Miami's league and cup schedule.
International retirement could reduce the travel and workload around FIFA windows. It may give Messi more recovery time between club matches, although Miami will still have to manage a 39-year-old player carefully through a demanding calendar.
The Montréal performance provides the clearest possible answer to anyone wondering whether the retirement announcement meant Messi was finished as an elite contributor. His Argentina chapter has closed; his Inter Miami chapter is still producing record nights.
What comes next for Inter Miami?
Miami are scheduled to host Atlanta United at Nu Stadium on Saturday, September 5, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The immediate challenge will be carrying the attacking rhythm from this victory into the next match rather than treating 7-1 as an isolated explosion.
Messi will also try to protect his lead in the Golden Boot race. With Suárez, Casemiro and Rodrigo De Paul around him, Miami have enough experience to build a title challenge, but consistency will determine whether the club can convert headline performances into trophies.
For one night against Montréal, everything aligned. Messi delivered four goals, his teammates supplied three more, and Inter Miami turned a winless run into the biggest league victory in club history.
Photo: Lionel Messi scores against CF Montréal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier during Inter Miami's 7-1 win at Nu Stadium. Sam Navarro/Imagn Images via Reuters.
