Lionel Messi ends Inter Miami’s winless MLS run with four

Lionel Messi brought Inter Miami’s five-match winless run to an end with a four-goal performance, giving the defending MLS champions a much-needed result during a coaching transition. The club had announced on Thursday that it was parting ways with Guillermo Hoyos.

Miami defeated Montréal 7-1 at home on Saturday, with Messi also setting up Luis Suárez for a goal. Suárez was previously Messi’s teammate at Barcelona. Messi completed his haul shortly before the final whistle with a left-footed free-kick from just outside the penalty area.

The victory lifts the focus back onto Inter Miami’s position in the Eastern Conference. The club remains second, 10 points behind leaders Nashville, while Montréal are second from bottom in the conference. Miami had entered the match with four defeats and one draw across its previous five games.

Kily González is set to take charge of Inter Miami once he receives his work permit. The Argentine will therefore inherit a side that has ended its poor sequence but still faces a significant gap to the conference leader. Messi’s display provided the immediate response, combining decisive finishing with an assist in the champions’ biggest result of the recent run.