Inter Miami secured an important 3-2 victory over Columbus Crew in a match valid for the 32nd round of Major League Soccer (MLS) on Wednesday (2). With two goals from Lionel Messi in the first half and another from Luis Suárez in the second half, the Miami team claimed the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield, the trophy awarded to the team with the best regular season campaign.
Messi shines as Inter Miami dominates the first half
Lionel Messi was once again the standout player of the match. The Argentine star opened the scoring at the 44th minute of the first half with a stunning goal, dribbling past a defender and slotting the ball past the goalkeeper. Just five minutes later, in stoppage time, Messi scored again, this time with a perfect free-kick, doubling Inter Miami’s lead.
The visitors dominated the first half, leaving Columbus Crew struggling to contain the attacking pressure from Messi and his teammates.
Luis Suárez extends the lead as Columbus fights back
At the start of the second half, Columbus Crew showed signs of a comeback. Diego Rossi reduced the deficit just a minute into the second half. However, Inter Miami responded quickly: in the 47th minute, Luis Suárez headed in from a precise cross, making it 3-1.
Cucho Hernández managed to score again for Columbus Crew in the 15th minute of the second half, but the home team couldn’t find an equalizer despite pressing hard in the final minutes of the match.
Supporters’ Shield victory and upcoming challenges
With this victory, Inter Miami secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference and clinched the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season campaign in MLS. Los Angeles Galaxy, the leader of the Western Conference, can no longer catch up with Messi and Suárez’s team.
Inter Miami’s next match will be against Toronto on Saturday (5), at 17:00 (Brasília time), for the 33rd round of MLS. Meanwhile, Columbus Crew will look to bounce back as they face Philadelphia the same day at 20:30.
Match facts
Columbus Crew 2 x 3 Inter Miami – 32nd round of MLS
Date: October 2, 2024
Time: 23:00 (Brasília time)
Location: Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
Goals: Lionel Messi (44’/1st half and 49’/1st half), Luis Suárez (47’/2nd half) for Inter Miami; Diego Rossi (46’/2nd half), Cucho Hernández (15’/2nd half) for Columbus Crew
Yellow cards:
Inter Miami: Jordi Alba, Jean Mota
Columbus Crew: Darlington Nagbe, Steven Moreira
Lineups
Columbus Crew (Coach: Wilfried Nancy): Eloy Room; Steven Moreira, Milos Degenek, Jonathan Mensah; Darlington Nagbe, Diego Rossi, Lucas Zelarayán, Alexandru Mățan; Cucho Hernández, Jacen Russell-Rowe, Yaw Yeboah.
Inter Miami (Coach: Tata Martino): Drake Callender; Jordi Alba, Kamal Miller, Sergii Kryvtsov, DeAndre Yedlin; Dixon Arroyo, Jean Mota, Benjamin Cremaschi; Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Robert Taylor.
Lionel Messi’s career: The genius who revolutionized football
Lionel Andrés Messi, born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. His meteoric rise from the youth ranks to global stardom has been marked by records, titles, and unparalleled skill on the ball.
Early career and discovery at Barcelona
Messi’s career began at a young age, playing in the youth divisions of his hometown club, Newell’s Old Boys. However, at the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which posed a serious obstacle to his career. The treatment required for this condition was costly, and his family couldn’t afford it. At this critical moment, FC Barcelona stepped in. The Catalan club offered to cover Messi’s medical treatment in exchange for his move to La Masia, Barcelona’s renowned youth academy.
At just 13 years old, Messi moved to Spain, where he quickly stood out in Barcelona’s youth teams. His exceptional ball control, speed, and game intelligence were apparent from an early age, leading to his rapid rise through the ranks.
Debut at Barcelona and rise to stardom
Messi officially debuted for Barcelona’s senior team on October 16, 2004, at the age of 17, in a match against Espanyol. His first goal came in May 2005 against Albacete, and from that moment, the football world began to recognize the Argentine prodigy.
From 2008 onwards, under the guidance of coach Pep Guardiola, Messi established himself as Barcelona’s main player. In Guardiola’s tiki-taka system, Messi shone in a team featuring legends like Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta. This trio dominated the midfield and attack, resulting in historic title wins.
Achievements and records at Barcelona
Messi’s time at Barcelona was filled with success. He won 10 La Liga titles, 7 Copa del Rey titles, and 4 UEFA Champions League titles, along with numerous individual accolades. Messi became the all-time top scorer for both the club and La Liga, setting records that seem nearly unbreakable.
One of the highlights of Messi’s Barcelona career was the 2011-2012 season when he scored 91 goals in a calendar year, breaking Gerd Müller’s record for the most goals scored in a single year. During his time with the club, Messi won 6 Ballon d’Or awards while at Barcelona, solidifying his status as the best player in the world on multiple occasions.
Departure from Barcelona and new chapter at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
In August 2021, after more than 20 years of partnership, Messi and Barcelona parted ways due to financial constraints that prevented the club from renewing his contract. His departure was emotional for both fans and the player, but Messi quickly found a new home at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France.
At PSG, Messi joined an already star-studded lineup alongside Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé. His move to Paris marked a new era for Messi, who continued to display his brilliance, although his role differed from his Barcelona years. At PSG, Messi helped the club secure the Ligue 1 title, though the coveted Champions League title remained elusive.
Messi and the Argentina national team
While Messi’s career at Barcelona was filled with glory, his journey with Argentina’s national team was more challenging. For many years, Messi bore the weight of successive failures in international tournaments, which led to heavy criticism. In 2014, Argentina reached the World Cup final but was defeated by Germany in extra time, leaving Messi heartbroken.
However, in 2021, Messi finally lifted his first major international trophy, winning the Copa América by defeating Brazil in Rio’s Maracanã Stadium. This victory was seen as Messi’s redemption with his national team, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players of his generation. In 2022, Messi led Argentina to glory in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, achieving the long-sought world champion title.
New chapter at Inter Miami
In 2023, Messi surprised the football world by choosing to play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, signing with Inter Miami. His arrival in American football brought unprecedented attention to the league and quickly elevated Inter Miami’s status on a global scale. Even far from Europe’s top leagues, Messi continued to showcase his talent and match-winning abilities.
Lionel Messi’s legacy
Messi transcended football. His style of play, his dribbling skills, his vision, and his goal-scoring ability have become benchmarks for any young player aspiring to shine on the pitch. He redefined what it means to be a complete player, blending raw talent with an impeccable work ethic.
Over his career, Messi has scored more than 700 official goals, along with countless assists. He left a deep legacy at Barcelona and is now creating new history in the United States.
Lionel Messi is much more than a sports icon: he is a global phenomenon, a symbol of dedication and excellence, who will continue to inspire future generations.