Inter Miami interim coach Guillermo Hoyos ran out of words to praise Lionel Messi after the Argentine forward scored four goals in a Major League Soccer match for the first time in his career, powering his team to a 7-1 demolition of CF Montreal.
Messi's sparkling display—four goals and an assist—came at a crucial time for Miami on Saturday, snapping their five-game winless run across all competitions.
The 39-year-old restored Miami's lead just before halftime, added another in the 52nd minute, completed his hat-trick in the 83rd, and capped the show with a stoppage-time free kick.
The former Barcelona star now leads the MLS scoring charts with 18 goals this season.
“There are no words to describe such footballing beauty. So much is going on that words become powerless,” said Hoyos, who is also Argentine.
“He constantly seeks goals, plays, passes; I don't think he's an ordinary player. Analyzing him, both as a player and as a person, goes so deep that you're left speechless.”
Messi, who won the 2022 World Cup, also led Argentina to this year's final, where they lost to Spain.
Miami midfielder Casemiro told Apple TV: “That's what it means to have Messi in the team. We have to enjoy these moments because he's a man, a player who makes history.”
Casemiro, 34, joined Miami in July after leaving Manchester United. The Brazilian and Messi once faced off in one of football's fiercest rivalries—Casemiro starring for Real Madrid while Messi wore Barcelona's colors—but now they are teammates.
“Today we saw that we have to enjoy, keep supporting, and compete alongside him because he's still the best,” Casemiro added.
“He proved that at the World Cup. We have to enjoy it because with him, we are so much stronger.”
