Lionel Messi scored four goals to lead Inter Miami to a 7-1 victory over CF Montréal, the most goals Miami has scored in a game, snapping the team's winless run in style. Messi scored on a deflected free kick in the 40th minute before converting again after a stunning solo run in the 52nd. After supplying an assist to Luis Suárez, the Argentina great then completed his hat trick with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper with seven minutes of regulation time remaining. He wasn't done. Deep into stoppage time, Messi lined up a free kick and dispatched it with trademark precision into the side of the net.

"That's what it means to have Messi on the team," Miami midfielder Casemiro told Apple TV. "We have to enjoy these moments because he is a person, a player that makes history."

It's the eighth time in Messi's legendary career that he has scored four or more goals in a game and the first time since joining Miami. His last four-goal match came in February 2020 for Barcelona against Eibar in Spain's La Liga. The 39-year-old is also the fastest player in MLS history to reach 20 multigoal games in the regular season, having done so in 72 appearances. Messi leads MLS in scoring this season, with 18 goals in just 19 games, to put him two ahead of FC Dallas' Petar Musa.

The victory was Miami's first in MLS play since July 25 and ended a run of five games without a victory in all competitions, including the Leagues Cup. It came with interim coach Guillermo Hoyos watching from the stands as punishment for repeated violation of the league's late kickoff policy. The club named Cristian 'Kily' Gonzalez as his permanent successor this week, but Gonzalez is still waiting for his work permits to begin his new job.