Messi, De Paul return as Inter Miami settles for 2-2 tie against Columbus Crew

Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald on Aug 1, 2026

Published in Soccer

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MIAMI — Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were back in uniform for Inter Miami on a soggy Saturday night at Nu Stadium, 13 days after playing in the World Cup Final for Argentina.

De Paul was in Miami’s starting lineup against the Columbus Crew and Messi came in off the bench in the 53rd minute to a rousing ovation and chants of “Messi! Messi!”

But they did not get the result they had hoped for. Inter Miami settled for a 2-2 tie after a late free kick goal by the Crew’s Brais Mendez. The draw snapped Miami’s win streak at six games and kept the team in second place in the Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield standings, two points behind Nashville, which also tied.

Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez wore the captain’s armband until Messi entered the game and continued his hot streak, scoring in the 16th minute to give Miami a 1-0 lead and providing the assist on Noah Allen’s go-ahead goal on a header in first-half added time that pushed Miami ahead 2-1 at halftime.

The 39-year-old “Pistolero” (Gunslinger) showed he has not lost his touch or his game smarts, launching a high-arching shot from nearly 40 yards out over the head over Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, who had come off his line and could not get back in time. The play began with Miami midfielder Yannick Bright’s high pressure forcing a Crew turnover. Suarez, not hesitating, took advantage and sent his shot soaring.

It was Suarez’s seventh goal in the past four games. He scored a hat trick against Philadelphia in the last game before the World Cup break, had a brace against Chicago and the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Montreal last weekend.

Then, after the Crew had tied the score on a Casemiro own goal in his home debut, Suarez stepped up just before halftime with the perfectly placed cross to Allen’s forehead after receiving a pass from De Paul.

Messi cheered from the bench.

Although Messi and De Paul could have taken the allowable 21 days off following the World Cup, per FIFA rules, Messi returned to the Inter Miami training grounds on Wednesday. De Paul returned to training on Friday.

“It surprised us that they didn’t take a longer vacation, their commitment is truly remarkable and I want to publicly thank them for that,” Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said on Friday. “They are very important to us, both from a footballing standpoint and a human perspective because they are true gentlemen in the game and make a difference for us on and off the field.”

The rest of Inter Miami’s starters were goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, right back Facundo Mura, 18-year-old center Ecuadorean center back Fricio Caicedo (making his MLS debut), center back Micael, left back Allen, midfielder Yannick Bright, midfielder Casemiro (making his home debut), winger Daniel Pinter, winger Mateo Silvetti and striker Suarez.

Kickoff was delayed 40 minutes by inclement weather. The team unveiled its new Cenit (Zenith) third uniform. The jersey features a white base accented with pink, mint and black detailing. The shirt’s pattern drew inspiration from the architectural lines of Nu Stadium’s signature canopy.

Miami’s roster Saturday was depleted as German Berterame is out on concussion protocol after a hard hit against Montreal that resulted in him exiting the field in an ambulance. Tadeo Allende remains unavailable after knee surgery. Midfielder Telasco Segovia and right back Ian Fray were serving suspensions for yellow card accumulation.

Center backs Maxi Falcon and Gonzalo Lujan remained unavailable while recovering from calf strains.

Brazil midfielder Casemiro, who joined Inter Miami last week after four seasons at Manchester United, made his debut against Montreal and put in a full 90-minute shift. Attempting to cut off a pass in the box at the 34-minute mark, he slid and mistakenly kicked the ball into the Miami net for an own goal.

Other than Messi, other Miami players who came off the bench Saturday were David Ayala and David Ruiz, who replaced Bright and Mura in the 75th minute and Preston Plambeck, who went in for Silvetti at the 86-minute mark.

The Columbus Crew Starting XI included: goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, right back Mohamed Farsi, right center back Steven Moreira, left center back Rudy Camacho, left back Sean Zawadzki, midfielder Andre Gomes, midfielder Hugo Picard, midfielder Taha Habroune, midfielder Dylan Chambost, striker Jamal Thiare, striker Daniel Gazdag.