Inter Miami opened the scoring in the match with a header from Casemiro, but CF Montreal responded just a few minutes later to level the contest at 1-1. Lionel Messi then came through for Miami, scoring a free-kick goal with a touch of luck to put the squad back in front.
The opening goal originated from a cross by Telasco Segovia, with Casemiro—slotted in at center back for the match—rising above the defense to connect with a strong header.
Messi’s goal stemmed from a foul by Noah Streit on Ian Fray along the wing. Messi stepped up to take the set piece, sending a hybrid shot-cross into the center of the box that took a deflection off Luca Petrasso before finding the back of the net.
Lionel Messi’s fantastic brace
Messi added an incredible goal to complete his brace and extend Inter Miami’s lead. The star forward feinted past Montreal‘s entire defense before finishing phenomenally, recording his 97th career goal with Inter Miami.
Messi completes hat trick
Messi capped off a flawless performance by completing his hat trick in the 83rd minute. Following a steal and assist by Rodrigo De Paul that left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Messi delivered an exquisite chip shot over the keeper to find the net. Inter Miami closed out the match with a dominant 6-1 victory.
Messi caps off four-goal performance
Messi capped off an impressive outing to wrap up a match that ended in a 7-1 victory. Leo put the finishing touch on the night with a flourish, scoring an unstoppable free kick to close out the game.
With the strike, Messi reached 927 career goals as he continues to close in on the 1,000-goal milestone. He now sits just 73 goals away, a feat that looks increasingly attainable by the day given his ongoing form.
Impressive free-kick stat
In a remarkable stat, Lionel Messi has now scored more free-kick goals for Inter Miami (9) than penalty kicks (7) since joining the club, a stat that only increases the meaning of being one of the greatest players in soccer history.
Additionally, if the goal is credited to Messi rather than ruled an own goal due to the deflection, he officially passes Juninho Pernambucano (72) on the list of all-time free-kick goalscorers with 74.
