Inter Miami 7-1 CF Montreal: Messi hits four in rout

Inter Miami hammered CF Montreal 7-1 at Nu Stadium on Saturday, with Lionel Messi taking centre stage.

Messi plundered four goals as Miami, who will soon be under new management, snapped a four-game winless streak in MLS. 

The victory marked the first time Miami have scored seven goals in a league game.

Messi and Casemiro each hit the post as Miami made a rapid start, and the hosts went ahead in the 20th minute.

Telasco Segovia whipped in a corner, and Casemiro was on hand to head home his first MLS goal.

Fabian Herbers' first goal of the season restored parity in the 37th minute, but Miami swiftly regained control through Messi.

He restored Miami's lead through a deflected free-kick before half-time, and then capped a stunning run with a fine finish after the break.

Messi turned provider for Luis Suarez to make it 4-1 and then completed his hat-trick with a dinked finish in the 83rd minute.

Teenager Alexander Shaw got in on the act, with Messi capping things off with a glorious free-kick in stoppage time.

Magical Messi leads Golden Boot race

This stunning showing from Messi means he now has 18 goals and 10 assists in MLS this season.

That has propelled him past FC Dallas' Petar Musa (16 goals, two assists) in the race for the league's Golden Boot.

Unsurprisingly, Messi led the way for shots (eight), shots on target (five), touches in the opposition's box (seven) and chances created (six).

Messi has now scored at least twice in each of his last three meetings with Montreal, who have lost five straight encounters with Miami.

This equals Miami's longest regular-season winning run against a single opponent, after a five-match streak against Toronto FC across 2021 and 2022.

Miami are awaiting the arrival of their new coach, Cristian "Kily" Gonzalez, but interim Guillermo Hoyos can reflect on a dominant display as the Herons got back on track in style.