Lionel Messi rolls back the years with four-goal masterclass for Inter Miami

Lionel Messi turned back the clock with a sensational four-goal display as Inter Miami thrashed Montreal 7-1 in MLS, ending their five-game winless run and sending the Argentine to the top of the Golden Boot race.Lionel Messi rolls back the years with four-goal masterclass for Inter Miami (Reuters Photo)Lionel Messi rolled back the years with a stunning four-goal masterclass as Inter Miami ended their five-game winless run across all competitions with a 7-1 rout of Montreal in Major League Soccer on Saturday night.Messi scored four goals in an MLS match for the first time in his career, taking his tally for the season to 18 and moving top of the Golden Boot race. He struck shortly before half-time, added another in the 52nd minute and completed his hat-trick in the 83rd before curling in a free-kick deep into stoppage time.The performance marked the ninth time in Messi's professional career that he has scored at least four goals in a single match.The Argentine's four-goal haul also saw him move ahead of Dallas' Petar Musa, who has 16 goals this season, in the MLS Golden Boot standings. Musa and Dallas face St. Louis City SC on Sunday. Inter Miami secured three crucial points to improve to 12-4-6 with 42 points, while Montreal's four-game unbeaten run in league play came to an emphatic end.Casemiro, Luis Suarez and rookie Alexander Shaw were also on the scoresheet for Miami. Casemiro opened the scoring in the 20th minute, heading home from Telasco Segovia's corner. Montreal responded in the 37th minute when Fabian Herbers fired past Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair after Noah Streit picked him out near the top of the box.Messi restored Miami's lead just three minutes later, bending a free-kick just inside the near post before Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier could react.His second goal in the 52nd minute was arguably the pick of the bunch. Messi weaved between three defenders before finding the back of the net to put Miami firmly in control.Luis Suarez added a fourth in the 80th minute on a counterattack, with Messi completing his hat-trick three minutes later. Shaw then scored in the 89th minute of just his third MLS appearance before Messi put the finishing touch on a memorable night with another free-kick in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.Inter Miami assistant coach Rafael Perez took charge of the match, with Guillermo Hoyos watching from a stadium skybox. Hoyos was suspended after violating MLS' Late Kickoff Policy multiple times in recent matches.Hoyos is set to be replaced by Argentine Kily Gonzalez, who was hired this week but is still awaiting the necessary paperwork to join the team in the United States.- EndsPublished By: Saurabh KumarPublished On: Aug 30, 2026 09:29 IST