Inter Miami CF delivered a commanding statement in front of a packed Chase Stadium on Saturday night, overwhelming defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew with a resounding 5-1 victory. The night belonged to none other than captain Lionel Messi, who produced a dazzling performance with two goals and three assists, earning Royal Caribbean Icon of the Match honors.
From the opening whistle, the Herons looked sharp, hungry, and relentless. Manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s starting XI featured Óscar Ustari in goal; a back line of Marcelo Weigandt, Maximiliano Falcón, David Martinez, and Noah Allen; a midfield core of Sergio Busquets and Benjamin Cremaschi; with wingers Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia supporting Messi and Luis Suárez up top.
The fireworks began early, with Tadeo Allende opening the scoring in the 13th minute. The Argentine winger latched onto a sublime over-the-top ball from Messi and buried a right-footed finish across goal for his sixth league goal of the season. It marked Messi’s fourth MLS assist of 2025.
Just two minutes later, Messi turned goal scorer. A wayward pass from Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte landed at Messi’s feet, and the Argentine maestro made no mistake, curling a left-footed shot from distance into the back of the net for his ninth of the season.
In the 24th minute, Messi completed his brace. Busquets floated a perfectly-weighted pass over the Crew’s backline, and Messi calmly lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper to score his 10th league goal of the year. The assist was Busquets’ third of the campaign, and the goal also etched Messi into the club’s history books as he surpassed Gonzalo Higuaín (29) to become Inter Miami’s all-time leading scorer in regular season MLS play with 31 goals.
Columbus Crew showed signs of life early in the second half, with defender Cesar Ruvalcaba scoring in the 50th minute to cut the lead to 3-1. But any hopes of a comeback were swiftly extinguished by Inter Miami’s devastating transition play.
In the 64th minute, Suárez capitalized on a slick sequence involving Segovia and Messi to restore the three-goal cushion. The Uruguayan’s near-post finish gave him his fifth league goal of the year and 33rd overall for the club, pushing him past Leonardo Campana for second all-time in team scoring.
Substitute Fafa Picault put the finishing touch on the win in the 89th minute. Another incisive pass from Messi left the Haitian international alone with the goalkeeper, and he coolly slotted home his fourth of the season. It marked Messi’s third assist of the night and sixth in 2025 MLS play.
With two goals and three assists, Messi joined Diego Rossi as only the second player in MLS history to record at least five goal contributions in multiple matches. His latest milestone further cements his legendary status, not just within the club, but across the league.
The victory gives Inter Miami all three points and crucial momentum heading into a brief MLS break. The team now sets its sights on the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, with domestic league action on pause until June 28.
Inter Miami fans will be hoping Messi’s historic form carries into the global stage — and after a night like this, confidence is sky high in South Florida.
