Lionel Messi showcased his extraordinary talent once again, netting two goals and providing two assists as Inter Miami triumphed over the Columbus Crew 5-1 on Saturday night.
With this performance, Messi has now scored five times in just three Major League Soccer matches, bringing his season total to 10 goals. This impressive tally not only leads his team but also places him tied for third in the league. His contributions were pivotal, assisting Tadeo Allende's goal in the 13th minute, Fafà Picault's in the 89th, and playing a crucial role in Luis Suarez's score during the 64th minute.
Remarkably, this marks the second consecutive match where the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has recorded at least two goals and an assist, solidifying his position as the league leader with 15 goal contributions.
From the outset, Miami displayed a more aggressive approach. Within the first 25 minutes, they unleashed seven shots, four of which were on target, against a Columbus side known for its defensive prowess. The Crew had entered the match ranked eighth in MLS, having conceded only 19 goals.
Allende initiated the scoring with a well-placed cross-body finish, courtesy of Messi's long ball. Shortly after, Messi capitalized on a misjudgment by goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen, deftly lifting the ball over him despite Hagen's attempt to intervene.
For his second goal, Messi received a long pass from Sergio Busquets, his former Barcelona teammate, and finished with precision over Hagen.
This victory was crucial for Miami, who had struggled with only two wins in their previous eight matches and were positioned sixth in the Eastern Conference. Following a 4-2 win against Montreal earlier in the week, Saturday's result propelled them to third place with 29 points, just ahead of next month's Club World Cup.
Miami is set to face Al Ahly of Egypt on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins. Before that clash, Messi will join the Argentina national team for World Cup qualifiers against Chile on June 5 and Colombia on June 10.
This match was the second encounter of the season between Columbus and Miami, both of whom have claimed victory in the last two League's Cup tournaments. Miami also defeated Columbus to secure the Supporters' Shield in 2024.
When these two teams met earlier this season, they were the only undefeated squads in MLS, playing before a record crowd of 60,614 at Huntington Bank Field on April 19. This attendance marked a single-game record for a Crew home match and represented the largest non-NFL event in stadium history, with Miami winning that encounter 1-0.
Columbus managed to score once when Dylan Chambost's corner was headed in by Cesar Ruvalcaba against goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo, who had replaced Oscar Ustari in the second half. However, Suarez quickly restored Miami's three-goal advantage with his second goal in as many matches.
In the closing minutes, Messi delivered a precise through ball to Picault, capping off one of Miami's most commanding victories of the MLS season.
Notably absent from the lineup was veteran left back Jordi Alba, who is sidelined due to a lower-body injury sustained against Montreal earlier in the week.
