Lionel Messi made his return for Inter Miami on Saturday, August 1, 2026, coming off the bench in the 53rd minute of a 2-2 MLS draw against the Columbus Crew at Nu Stadium. Despite Luis Suárez starring with a goal and an assist, Columbus secured a point through an 84th-minute Brais Méndez free kick.
Luis Suárez Shines and Casemiro Scores Own Goal in First Half Drama
Inter Miami entered Saturday’s clash looking to maintain momentum, but the opening period brought both brilliance and misfortune. Veteran Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a magnificent long-range effort. Yannick Bright tipped a pass away from a Chicago player right to Suárez's feet, and the savvy veteran quickly clipped the ball over Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte's head from about 40 yards out.
Just before halftime, Suárez struck again. Making a perfectly timed run into the penalty box, he latched onto a through ball from Rodrigo De Paul and looped it toward charging teammate Noah Allen, who headed the ball past Schulte.
Lionel Messi Returns Following World Cup Final Run
The second half marked the much-anticipated return of soccer's biggest star. Lionel Messi, who captained Argentina to the World Cup final just 13 days prior, started on the substitutes' bench before entering in the 53rd minute in place of Dániel Pintér. The 39-year-old forward received a massive ovation from the home crowd at Nu Stadium.
Messi nearly delivered an instant fairy-tale reintroduction. Three minutes after stepping onto the pitch, he controlled a pass from Suárez on the right side of the box and unleashed a left-footed strike that soared just wide of the near post, drawing shocked reactions from the crowd.
Both Messi and his compatriot De Paul had been granted an excused absence from the MLS All-Star Game under a pre-season agreement between Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association. The policy ensures that players returning from World Cup duties receive individual recovery schedules to manage physical and mental exhaustion.
Brais Méndez Denies Inter Miami Victory in Late-Game Thriller
As the match wound down, the Columbus Crew continued to press for an equalizer. Head coach Guillermo Hoyos acknowledged that the game slipped away in the closing moments as the home side struggled to secure their seventh consecutive victory.
The decisive blow came in the 84th minute. Brais Méndez, a Designated Player acquired by Columbus from Real Sociedad earlier in the month, snuck a looping free kick over everyone and into the back of the net for his debut goal with the club. The late strike salvaged a 2-2 draw, snapping Inter Miami's club-record six-game win streak while extending their unbeaten run to seven matches.
“I want to publicly thank Leo and Rodrí for being here; that has been truly important for us. I also want to acknowledge the sustained effort everyone is making throughout the game, a league that is fiercely contested and requires hard work.”
Guillermo Hoyos, Inter Miami coach
Standings and Upcoming Leagues Cup Schedule
Despite dropping two points at home, Inter Miami remains firmly in the hunt for domestic supremacy. United.
Inter Miami will now pivot immediately to tournament play.
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