June 01, (THEWILL) – Inter Miami delivered one of their most commanding performances of the 2025 Major League Soccer season on Saturday night, dismantling the Columbus Crew 5-l at home. The victory propelled the Herons to third place in the Eastern Conference with 29 points, marking a significant turnaround after a modest run of form that had seen them win just twice in their previous eight fixtures.
Lionel Messi orchestrated the rout with two goals and two assists, contributing to Miami’s overall dominance. The Argentine superstar opened his account in the 15th minute before adding another in the 24th, taking his seasonal tally to 10 goals and cementing his position amongst MLS’s leading scorers. His performance extended a remarkable streak of productivity, with 15 goal contributions now leading the league.
Tadeo Allende got Miami off to a flying start in the 13th minute with a cross-body finish from Messi’s precise long ball, setting the tone for what would become a dominant first-half display. The Herons registered seven shots with four on target in the opening 25 minutes, troubling a Columbus defence that had conceded just 19 goals entering the match, ranking eighth-best in MLS.
Columbus briefly threatened a comeback when Dylan Chambost’s corner was headed home by Cesar Ruvalcaba to make it 3-1, but Miami’s response proved swift and decisive. Luis Suarez restored the three-goal advantage with his second goal in consecutive matches, before Fafà Picault completed the scoring in the 89th minute following another Messi assist.
The comprehensive victory holds particular significance for Miami, who face Al Ahly of Egypt in their Club World Cup opener on 14 June at Hard Rock Stadium. Meanwhile, Messi will join Argentina’s national team for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia before the tournament begins, with Saturday’s performance confirming his exceptional form heading into these crucial fixtures.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
