Messi scores four as Inter Miami thrashes Montréal in historic 7-1 win

Lionel Messi has scored four goals and assisted one to lead Inter Miami to a historic 7-1 win over CF Montréal on Saturday at Nu Stadium.

Messi scored his first goal, and Inter Miami's second of the night, in the 40th minute from a direct free kick that caught Montréal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier off guard at the near post, Fox Sports reports.

He scored again 12 minutes later after dribbling past three Montréal defenders. His 16th goal of the season tied him with FC Dallas's Petar Musa for the 2026 MLS season-high.

Messi completed his hat-trick with a chipped shot in the 83rd minute, just three minutes after he assisted Luis Suárez for Inter Miami's fourth goal of the evening. Messi has scored 62 hat-tricks in his club career.

He scored his fourth and final goal from another direct free kick. He is the ninth player in MLS history to score at least two direct free kicks in a single match.

The 7-1 win was Inter Miami's largest margin of victory in club history, and the first time the club has scored seven goals in a single match. The MLS record for most goals by a team in a single match is eight (LA Galaxy, 1998).