Messi's long-awaited return
Lionel Messi made his first competitive appearance since Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain, coming off the bench in the 53rd minute against Columbus Crew on August 1, 2026. Fellow Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul also returned to action, starting in midfield for Inter Miami. Messi went close twice in the second half but could not find the net, with his best chance drifting wide deep in stoppage time.
Inter Miami's winning streak ends in Columbus draw
Luis Suárez opened the scoring in the 16th minute with his 10th MLS goal of the season and his seventh in his last four matches. Columbus equalized in the 34th minute when Casemiro inadvertently diverted Hugo Picard's cross into his own net. Noah Allen then headed home Suárez's cross just before halftime for his first goal of the season. Brais Mendez, making his Columbus debut following his move from Spain's Real Sociedad, curled home an 84th-minute free-kick to secure a point for the visitors. The match kicked off 40 minutes late due to a weather delay.
Evander delivers a historic performance for FC Cincinnati
Brazilian midfielder Evander starred in FC Cincinnati's 4-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at TQL Stadium, finishing with one goal and three assists, including a stunning 82nd-minute game-winner. Evander, who joined Cincinnati ahead of the 2025 season from the Portland Timbers in an MLS-record $12 million trade, notched his 100th career goal contribution in 104 regular-season games, becoming the fifth-fastest player in MLS history to reach the mark. The two-time Best XI selection reached 11 goals and 11 assists on the year, making him just the fourth player in league history to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists in three consecutive seasons. Head coach Pat Noonan praised the decisive strike, saying the midfielder "looked very decisive of the shot."
Eastern Conference standings reshape
The result ended Inter Miami's six-match winning streak and left them second in the Eastern Conference with 38 points from 18 matches, two behind leaders Nashville SC, who also played out a 2-2 draw against DC United. Columbus moved to 20 points as they continued their push for a playoff spot. FC Cincinnati's win lifted them to sixth place in the East with 26 points, providing a boost ahead of their midweek cup fixture.
Leagues Cup 2026 on the horizon
FC Cincinnati opens Leagues Cup 2026 play on Tuesday against LIGA MX side Pachuca at TQL Stadium, with the match scheduled for 7:45 pm ET and broadcast on Apple TV and FS1. The top three finishers in the tournament qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
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