Lionel Messi returns for Inter Miami after extended post-World Cup break

play Live Sign upShow navigation menuNavigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedSportOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftWorld Cup 2026Match ScheduleKnockout BracketGroup Standingscaret-rightSport|World Cup 2026Lionel Messi returns for Inter Miami after extended post-World Cup breakArgentinian star made his return for the MLS champions as Inter Miami play out a 2-2 result with Columbus Crew. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoLionel Messi heads the ball against Columbus Crew during the second half at Nu Stadium [Sam Navarro/Reuters]By AFP, AP and ReutersPublished On 2 Aug 20262 Aug 2026Lionel Messi has made his first appearance since the FIFA World Cup final, coming off the bench in the second half as his Inter Miami side drew 2-2 with Columbus Crew. The Argentinian veteran returned to the pitch for Saturday’s Major League Soccer (MLS) fixture, two weeks after losing the World Cup final to Spain in New Jersey, United States. Messi had several good scoring chances in the closing stages of the match but could not mark his return with a goal. Kickoff was delayed for 40 minutes due to inclement weather in Miami, and when the game finally began, Uruguayan Luis Suarez scored his seventh goal in his last four games to put the hosts 1-0 up in the 16th minute. Miami’s former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro scored an own goal in the 34th minute, which drew Columbus level at 1-1. Suarez provided the assist for Noah Allen to head Miami into a 2-1 half-time lead. But midfielder Brais Mendez, making his Columbus debut after arriving from Real Sociedad in Spain, curled in a second equaliser from an 84th-minute free kick. The result ended Miami’s six-match winning streak and kept them in second place in the Eastern Conference behind Nashville, who drew 2-2 at DC United. Elsewhere, Polish legend Robert Lewandowski scored twice in his home debut as the Chicago Fire eked out a 2-1 victory over Charlotte FC on Saturday evening. Lewandowski, signed in late June as a free agent, bagged his first goal for the Fire to level the scores after Pep Biel had put Charlotte ahead on 18 minutes. The former Borussia Dortmund attacker scored two minutes later, slotting a shot into the bottom left corner past goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. Lewandowski added a second on 68 minutes as Chicago picked up their first victory since the World Cup break. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: