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When Casemiro signed with Inter Miami following his pivotal contribution to Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, his decision was heavily influenced by the prospect of playing alongside Lionel Messi.
Having shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., and other elite players, he was eager for the opportunity to play beside the eight-time Ballon d'Or champion.
"He's one of the Gods of football," Casemiro said shortly after agreeing to a contract through the 2027 MLS sprint season with an option extending through June 2029. "Having faced Leo before, I already knew he was impossible to contain, but these two days have given me tremendous motivation to keep improving and keep winning."
On Saturday, he witnessed Messi at his finest, as the Argentine netted four goals in a commanding 7–1 demolition of CF Montréal, ending Miami's five-game winless run across all competitions and securing their first MLS victory since a narrow 1–0 win over a struggling Montréal on July 25 — the same match that marked Casemiro's debut.
The Brazilian midfielder — deployed in an unusual center back role — was fully aware of how remarkable it was to feature alongside Messi in such a dominant display, having opened his Herons account with a corner kick goal in the 20th minute.
"That's what it means to have Messi on the team," he told Apple TV after the final whistle. "We have to cherish these moments because he is a person, a player who 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 at the World Cup. We have to savor it because, with him, we are so much stronger."
The performance propelled Messi to the top of the MLS Golden Boot standings, bringing his tally to 18 goals and 10 assists in 19 appearances, as he pursues back-to-back scoring titles and a third consecutive MLS MVP Award.
Miami's Regular Season Title Hopes Fading
Miami recorded their biggest win in club history with the result against Montréal. Nevertheless, it did little to revive their chances of competing for the Supporters' Shield and MLS Eastern Conference crown, as they remain 10 points adrift of Nashville SC, who dismantled FC Cincinnati 4–0 at the same time.
Sitting third in MLS behind Nashville and Thomas Müller's Vancouver Whitecaps, the Herons must accumulate points in the final stretch while hoping rivals falter. Failure to do so could make the postseason road tougher as they look to defend their 2025 MLS Cup title.
Progress is being made, however, even if the side can be overly dependent on Messi's brilliance at times. Incoming manager Cristian "Kily" Gonzalez is set to replace the underperforming Guillermo Hoyos and may inject renewed energy in the pursuit of more consistent results.
Messi recorded 4 goals and an assist as @InterMiamiCF dominated CF Montreal, 7-1. 💪 pic.twitter.com/0cPkV40Jr6
While Hoyos may not have much time left in his current tenure coaching Messi, he continued to lavish praise on the Argentine following the four-goal masterclass. "I don't think he's a normal soccer player," he said, adding, "I don't have any qualifiers for such soccer beauty."
Casemiro, Messi, and Miami have two major trophies within reach for the remainder of the season in the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup, but could also lift the Campeones Cup in a single-game clash against Liga MX's Cruz Azul on Sept. 16 — a potential momentum-boosting occasion despite the trophy's lack of official recognition from FIFA and Concacaf.