Inter Miami CF x Columbus Crew SC

Lionel Messi turned Chase Stadium into his personal stage on May 31, 2025, dazzling the crowd with a five-star performance as Inter Miami CF steamrolled Columbus Crew 5 to 1. With two goals and three assists, Messi didn’t just play the game—he owned it.

It all started in the 13th minute when Messi slipped a perfectly timed pass to Tadeo Allende, who calmly finished to put Miami ahead. Just two minutes later, Messi pounced on a defensive mistake and curled home a signature left-footed beauty to double the lead. Then came the magic moment in the 24th minute when Sergio Busquets threaded a pass into the box and Messi floated a cheeky chip over the keeper for his second of the night.

Columbus tried to fight back with a goal from César Ruvalcaba early in the second half, but Miami were far from done. In the 64th minute, Messi and Telasco Segovia linked up to tee up Luis Suárez, who blasted in Miami’s fourth. The final blow came in the 89th when Fafà Picault got on the end of another Messi assist to make it five.

This night belonged to Messi, who officially became Inter Miami’s all-time top MLS scorer with 31 goals, passing Gonzalo Higuaín. Suárez’s goal also moved him to second in the club’s all-competitions scoring chart with 33.

[Photography by Joseph Osorio]