Overview
- Lionel Messi came off the bench in the 53rd minute on Saturday, created several clear chances in the closing stages and did not score in his first club appearance since the World Cup final.
- Inter Miami led 2-1 at halftime after Luis Suárez opened the scoring and Noah Allen headed a second, but Columbus’s Brais Méndez curled an 84th-minute free kick to force a 2-2 draw.
- New signing Casemiro turned a cross into his own net in the 34th minute, marking a difficult home debut that occurred while MLS says it is gathering information for an active review of the club’s agreement with LA Galaxy over discovery priority.
- The draw ended Inter Miami’s six-game winning streak, left the club second in the Eastern Conference, and shifts attention to a packed Leagues Cup schedule that will require careful player management.
- FIFA and FIFPRO recommend an optional 21-day post‑tournament rest for players, a guideline that frames debate over Messi’s rapid return and adds pressure on Inter Miami to balance short-term results with player recovery.