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Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass on Saturday evening, netting four goals to guide Inter Miami to their biggest-ever victory margin, a commanding 7–1 demolition of former teammate Alexis Sánchez and CF Montréal.
Criticism had been mounting around Inter Miami heading into the weekend. The club had gone five matches without a victory across all competitions, and Messi, despite finding the net, had appeared visibly frustrated with the quality of those around him.
Yet, there's little that can keep the eight-time Ballon d'Or holder down for long—not even at the age of 39.
While his ability to dominate every match may be fading in the twilight of his career, he still possesses the qualities to perform as one of the finest players on the planet. That's exactly what he demonstrated at Nu Stadium on Saturday, securing the club's third MLS victory at their new home ground.
Messi recorded 4 goals and an assist as @InterMiamiCF dominated CF Montreal, 7-1. 💪 pic.twitter.com/0cPkV40Jr6
Messi opened his account with a deflected free kick in the 40th minute, before doubling up in the 52nd with a breathtaking solo run, weaving past four defenders in a manner reminiscent of his finest moments with Barcelona and Argentina. He then chipped Montréal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier to complete his hat-trick, before curling a sublime free kick into the net in second-half stoppage time to round off a four-goal haul.
Beyond his own goals, he also teed up Luis Suárez for the Uruguayan's 11th strike of the season, while Miami academy product Alex Shaw netted his first senior goal for the club to help seal the emphatic triumph.
Messi Magic Returns—But It Never Really Left
Messi entered Saturday's MLS fixture tied for fourth in the MLS Golden Boot standings, sitting behind FC Dallas' Petar Musa, who led the race with 16 goals. By the final whistle, Messi had climbed to 18 goals and taken sole possession of the top spot, with Musa not scheduled to play until Sunday against the in-form St. Louis CITY SC.
While Miami's over-reliance on Messi remains a concern, it is evident the approach can still bear fruit—particularly against a side like Montréal, one of the weaker teams in MLS, despite their recent acquisition of Sánchez and their tendency to be a nuisance. After all, Miami's previous win had also come against the Quebec outfit, with the four intervening matches yielding two defeats and two draws.
With his performance, Messi not only delivered a vital morale boost, but also edged closer to history, as his free-kick goals brought his tally to 74 in official matches—just four shy of Brazilian legend Marcelinho's disputed record of 78 set-piece strikes.
The footwork. The finish. Leo Messi. 😮💨🤌 pic.twitter.com/K6QQa9in7V
In addition, he strengthened his case for a third consecutive MLS MVP Award, potentially helping to shift the mood at a Miami side that had been drifting into troubled waters, particularly at home, where they had managed just two MLS wins since the stadium's opening in April.
It has become apparent that the club's Messi-centric approach may not make them as formidable as they were during certain stretches since his arrival in the summer of 2023, but it does produce nights like Saturday. And with Messi's career in its final chapter, those moments deserve to be savored a little more.
"He expresses himself now the same way he expressed himself at that age [when I first met him]. The similarities are remarkable, with his footballing ability enhanced by all the knowledge he has accumulated," said interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos, who watched from the stands while serving a suspension.
"But he's truly the same person, with the same footballing qualities that drove him to grow and win everything. Honestly, what I see in him is something truly remarkable: constant growth. Not just when he was younger. Today he's older, and he keeps evolving and reaching new heights. There are no words."
Hoyos's Parting Move—Casemiro a Defender
As much as Messi has provided brilliance and productivity throughout the season for Miami, most other areas of the pitch have fallen short for the Herons. Few positions more conspicuously, however, than center back, where high-profile offseason signing Micael, along with Maxi Falcón and Gonzalo Luján, have all endured difficult campaigns.
On Saturday, Hoyos chose to deploy Brazilian midfielder Casemiro at center back. The decision represented a bold departure, with the outgoing Argentine manager making a daring tactical call that went against his typically cautious approach.
Meanwhile, the decision to field a defensive midfielder—one who has struggled since joining the club last month—at center back offered a telling glimpse into how the outgoing coaching staff views the available defensive options.
Look at that hang time 😮
Casemiro scores his first goal for @InterMiamiCF! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zUtHOS6XfH
Casemiro rose to the occasion in the unfamiliar role. He headed home from a corner kick for his first MLS goal and, defensively, contributed two tackles, six clearances and nine defensive actions to limit Montréal's rare attacking forays.
Whether incoming manager Cristian "Kily" González views the former La Liga and Premier League stalwart as a viable option in that position remains to be seen. Nevertheless, a new solution at the heart of the Herons' defensive line may have emerged.
De Paul's Struggles Continue
Rodrigo De Paul registered his 10th assist of the season in the victory, but his defensive shortcomings—an area where he is expected to excel—persisted. Were it not for him, Miami might have been celebrating a 7–0 win, rather than conceding to MLS veteran Fabian Herbers, who scored just his 21st career goal in 233 appearances.
While the Argentine midfielder appeared more involved throughout the full match, he struggled to maintain his positional awareness centrally while operating in a slightly wider role than usual. With Casemiro pushed forward into defense, Miami were left exposed in midfield, relying solely on Yannick Bright and were caught out as a result.
Beauty from outside the box! 😍
Fabian Herbers equalizes for @cfmontreal! pic.twitter.com/uL1FbsSIYd
As shown in the clip of Herbers's goal above, De Paul loses track of play as the ball moves to Montréal's Noah Streit. Herbers, meanwhile, was left completely unmarked at the edge of the box before Streit played a simple pass to give him a clear shooting opportunity, with De Paul caught badly out of position.
Since joining Miami from Atlético Madrid last summer, there had been expectations that De Paul could become an influential figure on both sides of the ball in MLS. Instead, his performances have been inconsistent and his overall level has declined, all while he makes frequent trips back to Argentina between regular-season fixtures.
Nevertheless, he will be looking to rediscover his best form, and the rest of the squad will aim to maintain the positive momentum next week when they face Atlanta United, hoping to chip away at the 10-point deficit separating them from Nashville SC in the battle for the Supporters' Shield and Eastern Conference supremacy.