Messi scores four goals, one assist as Inter Miami routs CF Montréal 7-1

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a free kick against CF Montreal during the second half at NU Stadium. Sam Navarro / Imagn Images

By Tom Bogert Aug. 31, 2026 6:01 am EDT | Updated

The 2026 MLS MVP debate got quite a bit less interesting this weekend. Lionel Messi, going for his third straight MVP honor, took control with a stunning four-goal and one-assist performance.

More importantly, Inter Miami snapped a five-game winless run with a much-needed thrashing of CF Montréal 7-1.

Messi is up to a league-best 18 goals and 10 assists. His 28 goal contributions are easily best in the league and, in addition to having the Golden Boot lead, he is just one assist away from the top of that category, too.

"There are no words," interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos said after Messi's performance. Hoyos didn't coach the team as he served a one-game suspension for violating the league's late kickoff policy.

The footwork. The finish. Leo Messi. 😮‍💨🤌 pic.twitter.com/K6QQa9in7V — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 30, 2026

Miami is awaiting the arrival of new coach Kily Gonzalez, whose Argentina international career briefly overlapped with Messi's. Gonzalez was on his way out of the team toward retirement when Messi was debuting.

Gonzalez hasn't had much success in his managerial career, but Javier Mascherano was also unproven at senior club level before leading Miami to win the MLS Cup last winter. That is the goal for Gonzalez.

Finding the balance between attacking quality and defensive structure is the elusive quandary Gonzalez will be the latest to attempt to solve (after fellow Argentines Tata Martino, Mascherano and Hoyos). They are 24th in goals against (41) and 22nd in expected goals against (36.8). It has to improve.

Casemiro was surprisingly used in defense during Inter Miami's resounding win. (Jim Rassol / Imagn Images)

Casemiro — who scored his first Miami goal this weekend — was shifted to center back for the win, which is unlikely to be a long-term fix. Luis Suarez continues to be extremely productive — now up to 11 goals and eight assists in 1,226 MLS minutes this year — but doesn't offer much defensively. Obviously, Messi isn't much of a pressing threat either.

For any of the shortcomings this Miami team has in defensive transition or individual mistakes leading to goals, they have Messi, and no one else does.

On some days, it can be that simple.

Latest intel

The summer transfer window in MLS closes on the evening of Sept. 2 (midnight CT). All sources mentioned below spoke on condition of anonymity as the deals were not yet final.

Rafael Navarro bids farewell ahead of St. Louis move

Rafael Navarro started and wore the captain's armband for the Colorado Rapids this weekend, despite being on the verge of a record-breaking transfer in the region of $12 million to St. Louis City, as previously reported by The Athletic this weekend.

The Rapids' stance was clear: Until the deal is done, he is a Colorado player and will be played. Though there was a potential injury risk, St. Louis knew there was nothing to worry about in negotiations, and a deal was imminent.

Navarro played a key role in Colorado's 1-0 win over rival Real Salt Lake. When he was subbed out in stoppage time, he had a long hug with coach Matt Wells, then embraced each assistant coach on the bench.

When the Rapids were handed the Rocky Mountain Cup, Wells pushed Navarro to the middle and told his players to give him the trophy for the team photo. Navarro then said an emotional goodbye to the Rapids fans.