Lionel Messi scored four goals in Inter Miami’s 7-1 rout of CF Montréal, adding another historic performance to his MLS record. The four-goal showing marked his 20th multi-goal game in the league and placed him among a select group of players to score four times in an MLS regular-season match.
What happened
Messi supplied four of Inter Miami’s seven goals in the decisive victory over Montréal. His performance turned the final score into a personal milestone, as he recorded the 20th multi-goal game of his MLS career.
The match also carried significance beyond that benchmark. Messi became the 19th player in MLS history to score four goals in a regular-season game, joining a limited list of players who have reached that single-match total.
Why it matters
The pace of Messi’s production separates this achievement from the previous multi-goal milestones recorded across the league. He reached 20 such games in only 72 MLS appearances, faster than any other player in league history.
That rate means more than simply reaching a round number. Multi-goal performances have been a recurring part of Messi’s MLS tenure, and the Montréal result provided the clearest example yet by expanding a multi-goal game into a four-goal night.
The performance also gave Messi two distinct places in the league record book from the same match. He stands alone as the fastest player to reach 20 multi-goal games while also becoming one of only 19 players to score four times in an MLS regular-season contest.
By the numbers
The central figures are 20 and 72: Messi has produced 20 multi-goal games across his first 72 MLS appearances. The latest came with four goals as Inter Miami finished with seven in the 7-1 win.
Messi’s four-goal total put him in a select regular-season scoring group. With only 19 players having accomplished the feat, the performance represents an uncommon level of single-match production in MLS.
What to watch next
The next measure is how far Messi can extend the record pace he established with his 20th multi-goal performance. Each additional multi-goal game will build on a benchmark he reached faster than anyone else in MLS history.
The four-goal result also creates another reference point for his future appearances. After entering the league’s small group of four-goal scorers, Messi’s subsequent performances will be viewed against both his rapid multi-goal pace and the rare standard he reached against Montréal.