Lionel Messi bent another free-kick into the night, but Inter Miami could not turn his latest piece of precision into relief. The Argentine scored his 76th career direct free-kick in a 2-1 MLS defeat to Columbus Crew, leaving David Beckham’s club searching for answers during a difficult run.
Key takeaways
- Messi struck his 76th direct free-kick goal during Inter Miami’s loss to Columbus Crew.
- The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner leads the MLS scoring chart outright with 21 goals.
- Inter Miami have won only once across their past 10 league fixtures.
- The club remain third in the Eastern Conference, although their former cushion is shrinking.
- Messi is due to face Benin with Argentina on 6 October in what is described as his final international appearance.
A familiar finish, an unfamiliar outcome
Only a week after scoring directly from another set piece for Inter Miami, Messi again found the corner from a free-kick in the early hours of Monday. Positioned wide of goal, he curled his effort towards the far post and beyond the goalkeeper.
It was another landmark moment for a player whose command of dead-ball situations has remained intact. His 76th free-kick goal added to an exceptional personal season in the United States, where his 21 league goals make him the division’s leading scorer without a tie.
Yet Columbus Crew left with the points. Miami’s 2-1 defeat meant Messi’s goal became a bright flash rather than the turning point his team needed.
Miami’s form brings pressure
Inter Miami are still third in the Eastern Conference, but their position has become less secure after a sequence that has delivered just one victory in 10 MLS matches. The club’s advantage over the sides below has steadily narrowed as the poor run has continued.
For Messi, attention will soon move from Miami to Argentina. He is scheduled to play against Benin on 6 October, in a match set to mark his farewell with the national team.
