Javier Mascherano praised Lionel Messi for his game -changing version in the victory of Inter Miami over CF Montreal.
Messi scored twice and assisted Luis Suarez in the 4-2 in which Inter Miami made their four-game Winless Run.
The three points mean Miami are sixth in the Eastern Conference and gave a much needed momentum while they then come across fourth place Columbus Crew.
Head coach Mascherano encouraged the team to follow Messi's example in their search for silverware.
“He makes everything look easy. He used to us in this phase of his career,” said Mascherano.
“I always try not only to concentrate on what he is doing, but at his desire to play. Because at the end of the day you see how contagious he is, how competitive he is and it reflects.
“We all have to see ourselves in that reflection. That is the player we have to follow because he shows us the way to compete in a very good way.
No words #iconofthematch pic.twitter.com/vpy0myovgt
– Inter Miami CF (@intermiamicf) 29 May 2025
“The team is united, they want to come out of this situation. Everyone pulls in the same direction.”
It is not only Messi for which Mascherano had a lot of praise for.
“There are no words about Luis. I am very happy with him,” said Mascherano of his former club size Suarez.
“He is a player who scored so many goals who scored so much during his career. And often he does not have the possibilities or that there are a few games in which he does not score, I think it is strange to him. But then there is the other part of Luis, the effort, his desire, that he never tries to give up.”
The crew is also in a difficult period after he has signed four of their last five games and lost the other.
Players to watch
Inter Miami – Lionel Messi
Messi played a key role in ending Miami's Winless Streak with his two goals and one assist, but his form has still been good in the last few games.
The eight-time balloon d'Or winner scored five goals in his last six games and helped two more.
He has now included 50 target contributions (29 goals, 21 assists) in the game with regular season, and became the first Miami player to do this and hits the milestone in just 37 games.
Columbus Crew – Diego Rossi
This season Rossi has been the most productive player for the crew and registered eight goals and three assists.
The Uruguayan scored or helped with each of his last five games, which turned out to be a clear spark in the bad form of the club.
Match -Forecast: Draw
Miami has recently improved from Columbus, after he has become unbeaten in the last six MLS meetings with the crew.
Columbus is looking for their first competition gain in competitions between these two teams since August 2022.
Miami saw the previous MLS competition between the sides overcome in April on Huntington Bank Field. Benjamin Cremaschi scored the only goal in the 30th minute.
However, Miami has given 15 goals in their last five games, which suggests that this could be an end-to-end meeting.
Opta wins probability
Inter Miami Win – 37.9%
Columbus Crew Win – 35.7%
Drawing – 26.4%