Lionel Messi made his first club appearance since losing the World Cup final, coming on as a second-half substitute as Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw by Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.
Return after World Cup disappointment
The Argentine forward rejoined his team for Saturday’s fixture in Miami, two weeks after Spain beat Argentina in the tournament decider. He entered the match in the second half and had several late chances to change the outcome, but was unable to find the net.
Match events and turning points
The game suffered a delayed start after adverse weather, with kickoff pushed back by around 40 minutes. The hosts took the lead through Luis Suárez, who extended an impressive scoring run with a strike in the 16th minute. Columbus were level thanks to an unfortunate own goal by Casemiro before Noah Allen headed Miami back into a halftime advantage.
Columbus secured a late equaliser when Brais Méndez, making his debut following his move from Real Sociedad, curled a free kick home in the 84th minute.
| Team | Score | Notable scorers |
|---|---|---|
| Inter Miami | 2 | Luis Suárez; Noah Allen (assistant Suárez) |
| Columbus Crew | 2 | Own goal (Casemiro); Brais Méndez |
Wider context for MLS and European stars in America
The draw halted Miami’s winning sequence at six matches and left them second in the Eastern Conference behind Nashville, who also drew 2-2 in their latest fixture. Messi’s appearance, even without a goal, will be watched closely for what it signals about his fitness and role in the remainder of the MLS season.
- Messi returned two weeks after the World Cup final defeat.
- Match ended 2-2; Miami’s six-game winning streak ended.
- Brais Méndez scored on his Columbus debut.
Related developments
Elsewhere in the league, Robert Lewandowski made his home debut for the Chicago Fire and scored twice as they beat Charlotte FC 2-1, marking an immediate impact since his summer move to MLS.
For British readers, the fixture illustrates how the post-World Cup period is reshaping club football outside Europe. Top international names arriving in MLS continue to raise the competition’s profile and influence transfer and commercial dynamics across the global game.
How managers integrate returning superstars while keeping momentum will be a key storyline for both MLS and the clubs involved as the season progresses.
