Lionel Messi returns to Inter Miami after World Cup final defeat
Lionel Messi made his competitive comeback for Inter Miami on Saturday evening, stepping off the bench following Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain on 19 July, reports BritPanorama.
The 39-year-old had been absent from club duty since captaining his nation in that 1-0 loss, a tournament in which he netted eight goals and provided four assists. Home supporters at Nu Stadium greeted the forward with a rapturous reception when he entered the fray in the 53rd minute against Columbus Crew.
Messi immediately injected urgency into Miami’s attacking play, fashioning several threatening openings, though he was unable to convert two goalscoring opportunities himself. Luis Suarez delivered a vintage performance in the opening 45 minutes, proving decisive with both a goal and an assist. The 39-year-old Uruguayan opened the scoring with an audacious chipped effort from distance after noticing Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte straying from his line — his seventh strike in just four matches.
Schulte was left helpless as the ball sailed over him, giving Miami an early advantage that the Crew had not anticipated. Suarez then turned provider, teeing up a goal to put the Herons 2-1 ahead before the interval, cementing his status as Miami’s most influential performer on the night. Casemiro’s fledgling MLS career took an unwelcome turn when the Brazilian midfielder inadvertently gifted Columbus their equaliser.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United man, who had joined Inter Miami in July, attempted to intercept a cross but succeeded only in diverting the ball past his own goalkeeper, with it trickling just inside the left post. It was a cruel moment for the five-time Champions League winner, who had made his debut for the club just a week earlier in a 1-0 victory over CF Montreal. The own goal breathed life into Columbus, keeping them within striking distance despite trailing for much of the half.
Brais Mendez ensured Columbus Crew would not leave empty-handed, curling a superb free-kick into the net in the 84th minute to make it 2-2. The Spanish midfielder’s stunning set-piece on his first appearance for the reigning MLS Cup holders proved the defining moment of an absorbing contest. Fellow new signing Lautaro Giaccone had also entered the action as a substitute in the 72nd minute, injecting fresh impetus into the Crew’s late push. Columbus competed admirably throughout despite the recent departure of midfielder Max Arfsten to Middlesbrough.
For Inter Miami, the draw represented a frustrating conclusion to what should have been a celebratory evening welcoming Messi back.
In football, narratives shift rapidly — a missed opportunity for Miami, perhaps, but one defining moment can alter the course ahead. As the familiar echoes of a jubilant crowd faded, the essence of competition lingered, proving yet again that sport is as unpredictable as it is exhilarating.
