Tadeo Allande scored three goals - Alba and Busquets, a pair of longtime Messi teammates who will retire when this season ends, had the assists on his first two - as Inter Miami topped New York City FC 5-1 on Saturday for the Eastern Conference title and a berth in the MLS Cup final.
Mateo Silvetti scored in the 67th minute for Inter Miami, with Messi setting up that goal - the 405th assist of his career for club and country, which is generally believed to be the most in soccer history.
Telasco Segovia scored in the 83rd minute to turn it into a runaway and Allande finishing off the hat-trick in the 89th was the final play.
"We have reached the final with a brotherhood of moving forward," Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said.
"The power of one group can overcome many things."
Inter Miami - the No.3 seed in the East - will play host to Vancouver for the league title on December 6 after Brian White scored twice in the first half and the Whitecaps beat San Diego FC 3-1 to win the Western Conference for the first time.
It'll also be the first MLS final appearance for Inter Miami, who have never made it past the opening post-season round in any of their first five campaigns.
The win moves them one step closer to another trophy, after winning the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters' Shield as MLS' top regular-season team last year.
Messi, a World Cup champion for Argentina and now eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, joined the team midway through the 2023 season when they were at the bottom of the MLS standings and in an 11-match winless streak.
Now? The club's brand is global, Messi's No.10 jersey in the club's pink kit is sold all over the world, a new stadium near Miami International Airport is on the way for next season, Messi is signed through 2028, he seems like a lock to win his second consecutive MLS MVP award and the team is on the brink of an MLS title.
Stars flock to see this team because of Messi; tennis great Carlos Alcaraz was there Saturday night, as were some members of the US women's national team.
"Everyone in the world knows who Lionel Messi is ... I think everyone thought he would come in here and do exactly what he's done," said US women's forward Lindsay Horan — whose Messi fandom goes back many years.
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