Lionel Messi produced a stunning four goal display as Inter Miami returned to winning ways with a 7-1 victory over Montreal on Sunday.
The result ended Miami’s five game winless run in Major League Soccer.
Miami had struggled since club football resumed after the World Cup. They had lost four of their previous five matches before facing Montreal in Florida.
But the defending MLS Cup champions put those problems behind them with a dominant performance.
Casemiro opened the scoring in the 20th minute at NU Stadium.
The Brazil international, who joined Miami after the World Cup, headed home to score his first goal for the club.
Montreal responded in the 37th minute. German midfielder Fabian Herbers fired a low shot from the edge of the box. The ball found the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
Miami needed only three minutes to regain the lead. Messi stepped up for a free kick and sent a low curling effort towards goal. Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier failed to deal with it as Miami went 2-1 ahead.
Messi struck again soon after half time. The Argentina star worked his way through several Montreal defenders before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner.
The 39 year old then turned provider for Miami’s fourth goal. Messi played a fine pass into the path of his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez. The striker finished the chance to put Miami firmly in control.
Messi completed his hat trick in the 83rd minute. Rodrigo De Paul provided the pass and Messi lifted the ball over the advancing Gillier to make it 5-1.
Teenager Alex Shaw came off the bench and added another goal in the 89th minute. He fired a low effort into the net from outside the box.
Messi was not finished. The Argentine scored his fourth goal deep into stoppage time. He curled another free kick into the net from the edge of the box to complete the 7-1 rout.
The win gave Miami a much needed boost after their difficult run of results. It also kept them second in the Eastern Conference.
Miami are seven points behind leaders Nashville, who were due to play later on Sunday.
For Messi, it was another memorable individual display as his four goals helped the MLS champions finally return to winning ways.
