Inter Miami 7-1 CF Montreal: Messi Hat-Trick Sets Record Win Margin
Lionel Messi inspired Inter Miami to a thumping 7-1 win over CF Montreal, scoring a hat-trick and setting up another as his side climbed further into playoff contention.
The Argentine was the difference-maker throughout, finishing the game with a perfect 10 rating after contributing five key passes and a successful dribble on top of his goalscoring exploits.
Messi broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute before adding further goals in the 83rd and deep into stoppage time, with the 90+6 strike completing his treble. The home crowd rose to their feet every time he received possession, sensing another moment of magic was coming.
The result underlined the gulf between the two sides in the table. Montreal, who sit deep in the bottom half, had actually led at one stage before Inter Miami turned the game on its head. The scoreline was level at 2-1 at half-time, but the hosts produced a ruthless second-half display, hitting five goals without reply.
Inter Miami finished the match with 20 shots, 11 of them on target, and an expected goals tally of just 2.87 – a measure of how clinically they took their chances. Montreal’s back line struggled to cope as the home side’s attacking momentum built.
The margin of victory was the largest in the history of the fixture, eclipsing the previous biggest win between the two clubs by four goals across ten meetings.
The win lifts Inter Miami to 39 points and keeps them firmly in the playoff picture, while Montreal remain stuck on 21 points at the foot of the table and facing a battle to turn their season around.
