Lionel Messi scored twice and broke Gonzalo Higuaín’s record while also contributing to three more goals in a magical display for Inter Miami.
“When Messi is in rhythm, he’s beautifully dangerous”—and Columbus Crew found that out the hard way. The Argentine wizard not only found the net himself but also orchestrated goal after goal for his teammates. Thanks to his mesmerizing performance, Inter Miami delivered a commanding win and sent a strong message ahead of the Club World Cup.
In their MLS clash, Inter Miami thrashed Columbus Crew 5–1.
Messi scored two goals in the first half alone. With 30 goals now in the MLS regular season, he has officially surpassed Gonzalo Higuaín’s club record. Throughout the match, Messi was in top form, setting up the remaining three goals with his signature flair.
After a four-game winless run, Inter Miami had bounced back in their previous outing with a 4–2 win over CF Montréal—Messi impressed that night too. But against Columbus, both he and the team looked back to their brilliant best. This emphatic win also served as a loud warning to upcoming Club World Cup opponents.
The match, played early Sunday morning Bangladesh time, was fairly even in terms of possession (Miami 51%, Crew 49%) and total shots (Miami 14, Crew 12). But the difference lay in execution. Miami had seven shots on target and scored five, while Crew had only one shot on target.
At the 13th minute on home turf, Messi produced his first moment of magic. Near the halfway line, he lifted a pinpoint long pass to a darting Tadeo Ayende, who took it in stride and smashed it home without taking a touch—leaving the Crew defense stunned.
Just 90 seconds later, Messi got on the scoresheet himself, courtesy of a gift from Crew goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen. Trying to clear under pressure, Hagen delayed and then mistakenly passed the ball straight to Messi inside the box. Messi calmly brought it down with his chest and lofted it over the keeper. Hagen got a hand to it, but it still found the net.
About 10 minutes later, Sergio Busquets launched a brilliant long ball from his own half. It evaded the offside trap and fell to Messi in a dangerous position. With a delicate chip over the rushing keeper, Messi scored his second of the match—putting Miami 3–0 up in just 24 minutes.
It was Messi’s 10th goal of the season.
Two minutes later, Messi delivered another stellar pass that nearly led to a goal, but Luis Suárez couldn’t convert. Toward the end of the first half, Hagen made another crucial save to deny Suárez again.
In the 58th minute, Columbus Crew pulled one back, hinting at a possible comeback. But Messi had other plans.
At the 64th minute, after a lovely one-two, Messi drove into the box and laid it off to Telasco Segovia. The Venezuelan could’ve gone for goal himself but instead unselfishly tapped it to Suárez, who made no mistake—capping off a beautiful team goal.
Luis Suárez was subbed off in the 80th minute for Fafà Picault. Just eight minutes later, Messi again found magic. From deep inside his own half, he threaded a pass through multiple defenders, setting up Picault, who sprinted forward and calmly slotted it past the keeper from outside the box.
With two wins on the bounce, Inter Miami now sits third in the MLS Eastern Conference with 29 points from 16 matches. Philadelphia Union leads with 34 points from 17 games, followed by FC Cincinnati with 30 points from 17 games.
