Lionel Messi Orchestrates Inter Miami’s 5-1 Rout of Columbus Crew: A Football Masterclass in Fort Lauderdale

Messi nets a brace and an assist as Miami storms into the MLS top three, Suárez scores his 1001st career goal

When Lionel Messi decides to turn on the magic, you’re in for an unforgettable night of football. That’s exactly what happened in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, where Inter Miami put on a five-star performance, dismantling Columbus Crew 5-1 in a Major League Soccer (MLS) clash that will be remembered for weeks.

The excitement at Chase Stadium was palpable as fans packed the stands, eager to see what Messi had in store. It didn’t take long for the show to start. Just 13 minutes in, Tadeo Allende capitalized on a clinical Messi assist, calmly slotting the ball home to open the scoring. But Messi wasn’t content to just create. Two minutes later, the Argentine maestro picked up the ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a trademark left-footed rocket into the top corner, doubling Miami’s lead and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

By the 24th minute, Messi was at it again, this time linking up seamlessly with his long-time friend and teammate Sergio Busquets. The result? Another cool finish for Messi, his second goal of the night, making it 3-0 before most fans had even settled in. Columbus Crew, stunned by Miami’s ferocious start, managed to pull one back in the 63rd minute through Cesar Ruvalcaba’s header from a well-worked set piece. But any thoughts of a comeback were short-lived.

Minutes later, Luis Suárez capped off a flowing team move to make it 4-1, notching his 1001st career goal and adding yet another milestone to his illustrious career. As the final whistle approached, Inter Miami’s relentless attack struck once more, sealing the 5-1 rout in style. The stats told the tale of dominance: Miami controlled 62% of possession, fired 18 shots (10 on target), and posted a remarkable pass accuracy of 89%. Messi finished the night with two goals and an assist, while Suárez and Allende made their mark on the scoresheet.

This emphatic win not only vaulted Inter Miami into the top three of the MLS Eastern Conference but also sent a message to the rest of the league: when Messi is in this kind of form, anything is possible. The timing couldn’t be better for Miami, as they prepare to head to the FIFA Club World Cup, where they’ll represent MLS on the global stage. After that, Messi will rejoin the Argentine national team for crucial World Cup qualifiers, making this victory a perfect send-off.

As Inter Miami looks ahead to bigger challenges, one thing is clear: with Messi pulling the strings and a squad clicking on all cylinders, the Herons are ready to take on anyone.