**Messi Shines as Inter Miami Thrashes Columbus Crew 5-1**

In their final home game before the FIFA Club World Cup, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami delivered a stunning 5-1 victory over the Columbus Crew. The Argentine superstar contributed significantly with a performance that included two goals and three assists, drawing comparisons to his remarkable game against the New York Red Bulls last year, where he logged one goal and five assists. Messi's impressive display sees him joining the Crew's Diego Rossi as the only players in MLS history to achieve at least five goal contributions in a single match twice.

Adding to his brace, Messi assisted on goals by teammates Tadeo Allende, Luis Suárez, and Fafà Picault. This victory extends Miami's unbeaten streak to three games, having recorded two wins and one draw in their last three outings. Speaking highly of Messi, head coach Javier Mascherano remarked, "Clearly, he's the best player in history to play this sport. When he's not excelling, it's often because the rest of us are falling short."

Inter Miami's resurgence comes on the heels of a challenging period where the team secured just one win in eight games across all competitions. Their last meeting with the Crew resulted in a narrow 1-0 victory, highlighting the stark contrast to this more dominant performance.

Looking forward, Mascherano maintains a cautious outlook as Miami prepares to face Al Ahly in the opening match of the Club World Cup on June 14. Although the coach takes pride in the team's recent form, he warns that the upcoming international competition will present tougher challenges. Reflecting on the Group A schedule, which includes matches against FC Porto on June 19 and Palmeiras on June 23, Mascherano emphasized the need for his squad to remain focused on the immediate task. "Our objective is to win the first match. We must show we are up to the standard of the competition," he stated.

Mascherano, who has twice won the Club World Cup as a player, understands the heightened level of play the team will face. Despite the newfound confidence from their recent MLS performances, he remains realistic about the challenges ahead.