FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It’s been two weeks since Lionel Messi vowed Inter Miami would ‘be a real team, and get through’ their most difficult stretch together since he joined the Major League Soccer club.
Five goals and three matches later, Messi has helped Inter Miami turn the tide on its season just before participating in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Messi scored two goals and delivered assists to Luis Suarez, Tadeo Allende and Fafa Picault as Inter Miami beat Columbus Crew, 5-1, on Saturday night at Chase Stadium in their final match before they play in the tournament in June.
Messi scored a brace for his second straight game, helping Inter Miami win consecutive matches for the first time since it won seven straight matches from Feb. 25 to March 29 earlier this season. With the victories, Inter Miami moved into a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference.
Inter Miami will play in the FIFA Club World Cup opener against Egyptian side Al Ahly on June 14 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, the first of three group stage matches in the tournament with 32 of the best soccer clubs in the world.
Before then, he will re-join the Argentine national team for World Cup qualifiers against Chile on June 5 and Colombia on June 10.
Inter Miami is surely content about being back on track before Messi’s quick trip with the national team before the Club World Cup.
“Winning in this way gives us confidence. It shows us that if we are brave, if we are calm, if we dare to play, we can play like any team, especially in the MLS,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said.
“The Club World Cup is another story. The opponents are clearly on another level, so it’s realistic to say that. Even Al Ahly, who everyone thinks is a minor opponent. I can tell you that they are not a minor opponent — far from it. But we’re going to compete, to try to be ourselves. And that’s what it’s all about.’
On May 18, Messi stood on Inter Miami’s pitch, following a 3-0 loss to Orlando City on ‘Sunday Night Soccer,’ insisting the club would improve. Inter Miami had won just once in seven matches, were trounced by Vancouver in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup tournament, and fell to sixth place in the standings after being outscored 20-12 during the stretch.
“It’s a difficult time, but we’re going to come through this together,” Messi said then. “Now we’ll really see if we’re a team in difficult times because when everything is going well, it’s very easy. But when difficult times come, like now, that’s when we have to be more united than ever, be a real team and get through it.”
Inter Miami has two wins and a draw in their last three matches. They’ve outscored their opponents 12-6 during the span. And Messi has scored five goals, leading the way.
It was also the second straight match Messi and Suarez have scored goals – they both had a brace on Wednesday in a 4-2 win against CF Montreal.
Messi scored in the 15th and 24th minutes of the match, giving Inter Miami a 3-0 lead after Allende opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Suarez scored in the 64th minute, while Picault scored in the 89th minute after replacing Suarez in the lineup. Columbus’ Cesar Ruvalcaba scored following a corner kick in the 58th minute.
Messi has 49 career goals with Inter Miami in 59 matches across all competitions since joining the club in July 2023. The Argentine World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was already Inter Miami’s franchise leader in goals, but passed fellow Argentine Gonzalo Higuaín for most goals scored in MLS games on Saturday against Columbus.
As Inter Miami turns its attention to the Club World Cup, getting healthy is the highest priority for the club. On Saturday against the Crew, Inter Miami played without star leftback Jordi Alba (hamstring), defender Gonzalo Lugan (hamstring), midfielder Yannick Bright (hamstring), while defender Toto Aviles was available as a substitute despite an ankle injury. Starting goalie Oscar Ustari also was pulled from the Columbus match to avoid injury, Mascherano said.
Mascherano said his players have realized having a positive reaction to their miscues instead of worrying about the mistakes they make can play a difference in their performance. “I think in these last few games the guys have understood that, they’ve taken a weight off their shoulders, but we have to keep going,” Mascherano said.
Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew highlights
Fafa Picault scores goal: Inter Miami 5, Columbus 1
Luis Suarez scores goal: Inter Miami 4, Columbus 1
Inter Miami has this game secured, but it isn’t stopping them from attacking. Luis Suarez has scored in the 64th minute, on an assist from Telasco Segovia. Messi had the second assist on the goal – marking two goals and two assists in the Columbus match.
Cesar Ruvalcaba goal: Inter Miami 3, Columbus 1
Columbus’ Cesar Ruvalcaba has scored following a corner kick in the 58th minute. Inter Miami is still in search of its first shutout since April 19, when they kept Columbus scoreless.
Lionel Messi scores second goal: Inter Miami 3, Columbus 0
Messi ran past the Columbus defenders with a head of steam, and scored his second goal of the match in the 24th minute. Messi took a pass from his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, and lofted it over Columbus goalie Nicholas Hagen for his second brace in as many matches.
Lionel Messi scores goal: Inter Miami 2, Columbus 0
Lionel Messi is on the board as well, intercepting a pass from Columbus goalie Nicholas Hagen, and striking his legendary left boot from outside the box past Hagen for the goal in the 15th minute.
Tadeo Allende scores goal: Inter Miami 1, Columbus 0
Inter Miami is on the board early after Tadeo Allende’s score in the 13th minute on an assist by Lionel Messi. The play was created after Sergio Busquets was fouled from behind around midfield, setting up a free kick into play by Messi, and Allende sent it home.
Tadeo Allende nearly scores goal: Inter Miami 0, Columbus 0
Inter Miami nearly took an early 1-0 lead, but Tadeo Allende didn’t have enough juice on his kick to get into the net. It was saved by Columbus Crew defender Malte Amundsen in the fourth minute. Allende was also ruled offside after the sequence.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew match?
The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Is Messi playing tonight?
Yes, Inter Miami has announced Messi as a starter for the Columbus match. Here are the starting lineups for both clubs:
When is the Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew match?
The match begins Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina) inside Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew prediction
- Inter Miami 2, Columbus 2: This match has the makings of a draw based on how both teams have struggled to score and defend during their recent stretches. It may come down to Messi needing to score a late goal to help Inter Miami salvage a draw. – Safid Deen
Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew betting odds
Inter Miami is the favorite to win at home (+105), while Columbus Crew is an underdog on the road (+195), and a draw has longer odds (+290) than an outright victory. The over/under is set at 3.5 goals, according to BETMGM.
Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew recent history
Inter Miami has won three of its last four matches against Columbus Crew.
- April 19, 2025: Benjamin Cremaschi scored the only goal in Inter Miami’s 1-0 victory in Cleveland.
- Oct. 2, 2024: Messi scored two goals, and Luis Suarez added another as Inter Miami beat host Columbus 3-2 to clinch the MLS Supporters’ Shield title.
- Aug. 13, 2024: Columbus stormed back from a 2-0 deficit at home to beat Inter Miami 3-2 in the Leagues Cup Round of 16. Messi did not play in the match due to his Copa America ankle injury.
- June 19, 2024: Inter Miami beat Columbus 2-1 at home while Messi was playing with Argentina during Copa America.
Messi’s upcoming schedule with Argentina, Inter Miami
The match is an unofficial start to another busy summer for Messi – the Argentine World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner – in the twilight of his legendary career in the United States.
Here’s what’s next for Messi after the Columbus match:
- June 5: Chile vs. Argentina, 9 p.m. ET (World Cup qualifying)
- June 10: Argentina vs. Colombia, 8 p.m. ET (World Cup qualifying)
- June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly, 8 p.m. ET (Club World Cup in Miami)
- June 19: Inter Miami vs FC Porto, 3 p.m. ET (Club World Cup in Atlanta)
- June 23: Inter Miami vs. Palmerias, 9 p.m. ET (Club World Cup in Miami)