Messi scores four goals, one assist as Inter Miami routs CF Montreal 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 | Share article

The 2026 MLS MVP debate got considerably less interesting this weekend. Lionel Messi, pursuing his third straight MVP honor, seized control with a stunning four-goal, one-assist performance.

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

Messi now leads the league with 18 goals and 10 assists. His 28 goal contributions are the best in MLS by a wide margin. In addition to holding the Golden Boot lead, he is just one assist away from the top of that category as well.

"There are no words," interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos said after Messi's performance. Hoyos did not coach the team, serving a one-game suspension for violating the league's late kickoff policy.

The footwork. The finish. Leo Messi. 😮‍💨🤌 — 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 has not enjoyed 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). Miami ranks 24th in goals against (41) and 22nd in expected goals against (36.8). It must 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, though this 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 does not offer much defensively. Messi, obviously, is not much of a pressing threat either.

For all 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, that can be enough.

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.

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 shared 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.