Lionel Messi stars as Inter Miami hit eight against Montreal

Lionel Messi was at the centre of another headline-grabbing night for Inter Miami as the MLS side delivered an eight-goal spectacle against CF Montreal. In a game packed with attacking quality, the Argentina captain played a decisive role, scoring a hat-trick and also creating for his team-mates in an emphatic home win.

Inter Miami’s strong MLS run continues

Inter Miami have been one of the standout teams in the Eastern Conference this season, and this result underlined why. The club from Florida recorded its 12th win from 22 conference matches, maintaining the momentum that has made it one of the division’s most dangerous attacking sides.

CF Montreal briefly showed they could compete, but only in flashes. Inter Miami’s overall control and cutting edge in the final third proved too much, particularly once the match opened up after the break.

Early breakthrough and a turning point before half-time

The hosts moved in front in the 20th minute through Casemiro, who opened his account for Inter Miami after joining the club this season. The former Manchester United midfielder scored in familiar fashion, rising highest from a corner and heading home.

Montreal responded in the 37th minute when Fabian Herbers found the net from outside the penalty area to level the match. But that equaliser did not shift the balance for long. Before the interval, Inter Miami regained the lead when Luca Petrasso turned Messi’s delivery into his own net, a moment that changed the tone of the contest.

Messi takes over after the interval

If the first half was competitive, the second became a showcase for Inter Miami’s firepower. The home side struck five times after the restart, with Messi driving the surge. The Argentina captain completed a hat-trick, and his final goal stood out in particular as he bent a free-kick over the wall to cap the performance.

Messi was not only finishing moves but shaping them. He also supplied Luis Suarez, who added his name to the scoresheet, while Alexander Shaw completed the scoring on a night when Inter Miami’s attack overwhelmed Montreal.

It was the kind of display that quickly travels beyond MLS. Messi’s influence ensured the match became a major talking point, not just because of the number of goals but because of the authority with which he imposed himself on the game.

Attention turns to the next fixtures

The schedule offers little pause. Inter Miami’s next match is set for 6 September, when they host Atlanta United. Four days later comes a fixture likely to draw particular interest in Poland, as the Florida side travel to Chicago for a meeting billed as Messi against Robert Lewandowski.

For now, though, the focus remains on a night in Miami that showcased Inter’s attacking potential and Messi’s enduring ability to dominate the conversation. In a match that produced eight goals, he was still the defining figure.