Javier Mascherano believes Inter Miami’s dominant victory over the Columbus Crew showed his side’s bravery ahead of their Club World Cup campaign.

After four matches without a victory in MLS (D2 L2), Miami have won their last two matches, including a 5-1 victory over the Crew, which was spearheaded by Lionel Messi.

It was Miami’s last match before the Club World Cup, where they play Al Ahly, Porto and Palmeiras in the group stage, with their first match taking place against the Egyptian side on 14 June.

The victory also lifted the Herons back up to third in the Eastern Conference, and Mascherano acknowledged how important it was for their confidence ahead of the tournament.

“Winning in this way gives us confidence, it shows us that we are brave,” Mascherano said.

“Then the Club World Cup is another story. The level we are going to face is much higher than what we have faced in Concacaf and MLS.

“If we are at the same level or not, we will show it in June. I think that if we are united as a team, we can compete.”

Messi was the star for Miami against Columbus as he directly had a hand in four of their five goals on Saturday.

He had two or more goals and two or more assists in the same game for the 13th time in his club career, and the first since October 2022.

Messi is now up to 15 goal involvements in MLS this year (10 goals, five assists), the most of any player in the league.

“I see him every game. We see the same thing,” Mascherano added on their star player. “We try to help him as much as we can.

“Clearly, he is the best player that has ever played this game. And we have to understand that when he is not brilliant, that’s because one of us is failing. That’s the reality.”