Lionel Messi delivered a moment of pure class, curling in a stunning free-kick to equalize for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew on Sunday—yet even the Argentine superstar's 21st regular season goal could not salvage his team from a devastating 2-1 defeat in Major League Soccer. The loss arrived in the cruelest fashion imaginable, with Columbus snatching a late winner deep in stoppage time to compound Miami's mounting playoff frustrations and heap further pressure on their Eastern Conference aspirations.
Messi's equalizer arrived in the 33rd minute, a moment of individual brilliance that silenced the Columbus home crowd shortly after Josef Martinez had given the Crew an early advantage from the penalty spot five minutes earlier. The PSG and Barcelona legend's curling strike was precisely the kind of technical excellence Miami's supporters craved, yet the script took a heartbreaking turn as the match progressed. In the 62nd minute, Messi orchestrated a dangerous forward thrust that drew a parried save from Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, while substitute David Ayala came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock moments later. However, Ayala's finish—a crisp shot struck past Schulte at the near post—was ruled out for a marginal offside decision, denying Miami what appeared to be a critical breakthrough.
Columbus, bolstered by new Moroccan acquisition Anass Zaroury, proved resilient throughout and created their own opportunities despite Miami's dominance in possession. Zaroury twice threatened the frame, including with a spectacular long-range effort that struck the underside of the bar, keeping Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo alert and engaged. As the match approached full-time, a draw appeared the likely outcome, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion that would crystallize Miami's playoff predicament.
The decisive blow fell in stoppage time when Brais Mendez unleashed a curling effort from the area's edge that Rios Novo failed to secure cleanly, allowing substitute Jamal Thiare to pounce for the close-range finish and seal all three points for Columbus. The defeat extends Miami's struggles, leaving them 14 points adrift of Eastern Conference leaders Nashville with seven regular season matches remaining. Miami now sit level with second-place New England at 46 points, while Columbus, buoyed by the victory, occupy 12th place with 29 points and remain just four points outside the playoff positions, keeping their postseason hopes alive.