Messi Back in Action
Lionel Messi made his return to competitive football for Inter Miami on August 1, 2026, coming off the bench in the 53rd minute during their 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew. This marked his first appearance since Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain. Inter Miami’s match against Columbus Crew saw Luis Suarez open the scoring in the 16th minute, netting his 10th goal of the MLS season.
The Argentine captain’s return was highly anticipated, and he was introduced in the 53rd minute, replacing Dániel Pintér. Messi was unable to make an immediate impact on the scoresheet, although he went close twice in the second half. His best chance came deep into stoppage time, but his effort drifted wide as Miami failed to snatch a late winner. Fellow Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul also returned to action, starting in midfield for Miami.
The match had kicked off 40 minutes late due to a weather delay. Columbus restored parity in the 34th minute when Casemiro inadvertently diverted Hugo Picard’s cross into his own net while attempting to clear the danger. Inter Miami regained the lead just before half-time through Noah Allen, but the visitors had the final word with Brais Mendez curling home a brilliant free-kick in the 84th minute.
This match marked Messi’s first appearance since the World Cup final, where Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain. The 39-year-old had been speculated to retire from club football, but his return to Inter Miami has put an end to those rumors. Messi’s return is expected to boost Inter Miami’s profile and performance in the MLS.
Lionel Messi’s return to football with Inter Miami has been highly anticipated, and his performance in the 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew has shown that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the sport. As Inter Miami continues to compete in the MLS, Messi’s presence is expected to have a significant impact on the team’s performance.
