Lionel Messi scored four goals as Inter Miami defeated visiting CF Montréal 7-1 on Saturday, ending the club’s winless run in emphatic fashion and setting a new Miami record for most goals in a game.
Messi opened his account in the 40th minute with a deflected free kick. He struck again in the 52nd minute after a remarkable solo run, then assisted Luis Suárez before completing his hat trick with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper with seven minutes of regulation time remaining.
Messi added his fourth goal deep into stoppage time, curling a free kick with trademark precision into the side netting.
Messi reaches another career milestone
“That’s what it means to have Messi on the team,” Miami midfielder Casemiro told Apple TV. “We have to enjoy these moments because he is a person, a player that makes history.”
We saw today that we have to enjoy it, keep supporting and keep competing with him because he continues to be the best. He proved it in the World Cup. We have to enjoy it because, with him, we are so much stronger.”
The four-goal performance was the eighth of Messi’s career and his first since joining Inter Miami. His previous four-goal game came in February 2020, when he scored four times for Barcelona against Eibar in Spain’s LaLiga.
At 39, Messi is also the fastest player in MLS history to reach 20 regular-season multigoal games, achieving the mark in 72 appearances. He leads MLS scoring this season with 18 goals in 19 games, two ahead of FC Dallas forward Petar Musa.
“There are no words to describe such footballing beauty,” Miami interim coach Guillermo Hoyos, who was suspended for the game, said. “So much is going on that words simply fall short.”
He is constantly looking for that goal, that play, that pass; I don’t think he’s an ordinary footballer. Analyzing him, both as a player and as a person, goes so deep that you run out of words.”
Inter Miami ends five-game winless run
The victory was Inter Miami’s first in MLS play since July 25 and ended a five-game winless streak in all competitions, including the Leagues Cup.
Hoyos watched from the stands while serving a suspension for repeated violations of the league’s late kickoff policy. The club named Cristian ‘Kily’ Gonzalez as his permanent successor this week, but Gonzalez is still waiting for his work permits before beginning his new role.
“The significance of this victory is huge for everyone,” Hoyos said. “First and foremost for the players, the team itself, who truly deserved it and still do. For the club, which also deserves it given the immense effort involved; and for all of us working together.”
We all deserve this, and what we’re experiencing right now is truly a great blessing. It’s also important for the club’s objectives, coming at what I believe is a crucial moment.”
Assistant coach Rafael Pérez led Miami in Hoyos’ absence. Casemiro opened the scoring with his first goal for the club since arriving in the summer, while 18-year-old Alexander Shaw scored Miami’s other goal in the 89th minute.
The result keeps Inter Miami second in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind Nashville SC. Montréal, which introduced new arrival and Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Alexis Sánchez in the second half, remains 14th, second to last in the Eastern Conference.
Source: www.espn.com
