Football icon Lionel Messi was once again at the heart of the action as he delivered a masterclass performance, scoring twice and providing two assists to lead Inter Miami to a resounding 5-1 victory over Columbus Crew in their Major League Soccer (MLS) fixture played on Saturday.
The emphatic win comes as a timely morale boost for Javier Mascherano’s side, who are gearing up to represent the United States in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, where they will kick off their campaign on June 14 against Egyptian giants and African champions, Al Ahly SC.
Following a period of inconsistent form that raised concerns among fans and pundits alike, Inter Miami now seem to be finding their rhythm again. Saturday’s victory follows a 4-2 win over CF Montréal in midweek—a game in which both Messi and Luis Suárez netted braces to ease pressure on the team and silence critics questioning their recent performances.
From the onset against Columbus, Inter Miami appeared hungry and focused, capitalising on an uncharacteristically shaky defensive display from the visitors, who have been one of the MLS’s most consistent teams in recent years. However, they struggled to cope with the pace, precision, and intelligence of Miami’s frontline.
The scoring began in the 13th minute when Tadeo Allende latched onto a beautifully weighted lofted pass from Messi—who had dropped deep into midfield—and finished calmly to make it 1-0. Just two minutes later, a moment of hesitation by Columbus Crew’s stand-in goalkeeper, Nicholas Hagen, gifted Messi a golden opportunity. Attempting to play out from the back, Hagen inadvertently passed the ball straight to the Argentine legend, who attempted a deft chip. Though Hagen managed a fingertip touch, the ball looped into the net to double Miami’s lead.
Messi added his second of the night and Miami’s third in the 24th minute, capitalising on a moment of disorganisation in the Columbus defence. A clever ball over the top from Sergio Busquets found Messi, who made no mistake in lobbing the advancing keeper to complete a first-half brace.
Columbus tried to claw their way back into the contest after the break, and were briefly lifted by a powerful header from Cesar Ruvalcaba in the 58th minute, reducing the deficit to 3-1. But any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed just six minutes later when Messi burst through the middle and released Telasco Segovia, who unselfishly squared for Luis Suárez to fire home into the bottom corner.
Messi, who already had two goals and an assist to his name, turned provider once again in the closing stages. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sent a precise pass through to substitute Fafa Picault, who made no mistake with a composed finish to seal a comprehensive 5-1 win for the Florida-based side.
With this commanding performance, Messi continues to justify his marquee status in the MLS, and now departs for international duty with Argentina, who have already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The World Champions are scheduled to face Chile on Thursday and then host Colombia on June 10.
For Inter Miami, the win over Columbus Crew sends a strong signal to their Club World Cup opponents and signals a team regaining its confidence and hunger at just the right moment.
