The Herons were trailing 1-0 in the first half following a penalty scored by Josef Martinez, who was one of Messi’s first teammates in Miami back in 2023. Only six minutes after the Crew took the lead, Messi made sure to make things level in the first half.

The night ended in a late loss for Miami, but at least there’s a positive aspect on the personal side for Messi, who now needs just two more free kick goals to tie the all-time record. Just watch this absolute beauty of yet another piece of art by Leo:

Who has more career free kick goals than Lionel Messi?

Messi is chasing the record set by former Brazilian soccer player Marcelinho Carioca, who recorded 78 free kick goals throughout his career. But the Argentine star knows a thing or two about surpassing Brazilian players on this list.

Messi is already second behind Marcelinho Carioca, having overtaken the likes of Jair Rosa Pinto, Roberto Dinamite, and Juninho Pernambucano recently.

1. Marcelinho Carioca – 78 career free kick goals
2. Lionel Messi – 76
3. Jair Rosa Pinto – 74
4. Roberto Dinamite – 73
5. Juninho Pernambucano – 72

Key takeaways

• Lionel Messi scored his 76th career free kick against Columbus Crew in 2026.
• Just two goals separate the Argentine superstar from tying the all-time record.
• 78 free kick goals is the all-time record held by Marcelinho Carioca.

How to watch Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami in the USA

Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami will be available to watch exclusively on Apple TV in the United States. The MLS has moved all of its matches in 2026, with the former standalone MLS Season Pass replaced by an Apple TV subscription.

Can I watch Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami for free?

Yes, eligible new Apple TV subscribers can currently use a seven-day free trial before the subscription switches to the regular price of $14.99 per month in the United States.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami is a Matchday 28 Eastern Conference clash with very different implications for the two sides. Inter Miami enter the weekend in third place with 46 points, while Columbus sit 14th with 26 points.

Miami are therefore fighting to secure a top-four position and home-field advantage in the postseason, while the Crew are attempting to close the gap during the final stretch of the regular season.

The Crew arrive with some momentum after beating CF Montreal 2-0 on the road, with Mohammed Farsi and Brais Mendez scoring in the second half. That victory ended a two-game MLS losing streak and came shortly after Columbus defeated Orlando City 2-1 to secure a place and home-field rights in the 2026 US Open Cup Final. A result against the reigning MLS Cup champions would provide another boost as the Crew prepare for the final weeks of the campaign.

Inter Miami, meanwhile, are coming off a 2-2 draw with San Diego FC after recently lifting the Campeones Cup. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored for the Herons, with Messi reaching 20 MLS goals for the season and Suarez moving to 13. Messi also leads the league with 33 goal contributions, while Rodrigo De Paul has recorded four goals and 12 assists during his first full MLS season.

What time is the Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami match?

The Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami match kicks off on Sunday, September 27, at 7:00 PM ET. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 7:00 PM
• Central Time: 6:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:00 PM

According to Inter Miami, nine Inter Miami players have been called up for the September and October international windows across senior and youth levels. However, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will participate in Inter Miami’s matches until October 6, when they play for Argentina against Benin.

However, they will lose against Columbus the following seven players who were called up by their countries:

• German Berterame (Mexico)
• Dayne St. Clair (Canada)
• Matias Galarza (Paraguay)
• Fricio Caicedo (Ecuador)
• Lovend’s Delinois (Haiti)
• Daniel Pinter (USA/U-20)
• Alexander Shaw (USA/U-19)

Messi available for a crucial match

Although Argentina will have prior games, Messi will only attend his farewell match on October 6 against Benin. From there, they will be able to be present for their respective matches, as is the case against Columbus Crew.

This match carries weight, as Inter Miami will look to earn three points again to stay near the top of the MLS Eastern Conference standings. The team needs a positive result to sustain its aspirations heading into the final stretch of the season and remain in contention for the top spot.

Columbus Crew, for their part, will have the opportunity to climb the table. A victory would be key to starting to leave behind the bottom spots of the conference and regaining ground in the competition.

How both teams enter the match

Columbus Crew are coming off a 2-0 victory against CF Montreal. With this result, they have seven wins, five draws, and 14 losses, placing them in 13th place.

Meanwhile, Inter Miami enter after a 2-2 draw with San Diego, where Lionel Messi scored a free-kick goal that brought him closer to breaking the record — a result that leaves them with 12 wins, 10 draws, and four losses in third place in the Eastern Conference.

Early in the match, San Diego stunned Nu Stadium. Following a defensive lapse, Anders Dreyer slipped past the defense and charged toward the goalkeeper. The visitors’ Danish No. 10 delivered a clinical finish to open the scoring at 1-0 in the 12th minute.

Inter Miami went into halftime tied thanks to the free kick from Lionel Messi, which marked his 101st goal for the club. After reaching 100 goals with Inter Miami during their Campeones Cup victory against Cruz Azul, the Herons’ No. 10 continues to build on his stat sheet.

Messi’s season so far

Messi has recorded 20 goals in the 2026 MLS season for Inter Miami. The Argentine star leads the league in scoring, maintaining a dominant pace during the regular season ahead of the year’s decisive challenges.

The captain maintains a decisive presence in the Herons’ attack. His influence extends beyond scoring, as he has logged 11 assists in 22 matches played during the tournament, consolidating his role as the cornerstone of the Florida franchise.

Messi‘s regular-season performance keeps the Miami squad in contention for top spots in the Eastern Conference. Highlighted by memorable outings, including a four-goal performance against CF Montreal, the South American forward continues to display complete dominance in front of the net.

Now Inter Miami will look to finish the season on a strong note, aiming to enter the postseason as a solid contender in pursuit of winning the MLS title, while Messi inches closer to the 1,000-goal mark, sitting just 70 goals away.

Messi became the fastest player in MLS history to reach 100 goals for a single club across all competitions. Looking at the bigger picture, his output remains staggering—adding 55 assists in 144 total appearances as he continues to elevate his legacy in North America.

Having secured their first piece of silverware of the 2026 campaign, Messi and Inter Miami remain in pursuit of additional hardware this season. Expectations remain sky-high for the captain, especially following the announcement that he has been called up for Argentina’s international farewell tour.

Hitting the century mark in South Florida naturally sparked comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring exploits with Al Nassr, as fans immediately began debating the two legends’ goal tallies following Messi’s latest milestone.

Messi’s records in the MLS

Since arriving at Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, Lionel Messi has shattered a series of league-wide and franchise records across Major League Soccer. Here is a look at his defining MLS marks:

• Most goal contributions in a single game (6): On May 4, 2024, against the New York Red Bulls, Messi recorded an unprecedented six goal contributions (1 goal, 5 assists) in a 6–2 rout.
• Most assists in a single match (5): In that same performance against New York, Messi set the single-game MLS assist record by setting up five goals.
• Most consecutive games with multiple goal contributions (5): Became the first player in MLS history to register multiple goals or assists in five straight regular-season matches (2024).
• Fastest player to 25 goal contributions: Needed just 12 regular-season appearances to reach 25 goal contributions (goals + assists), shattering the previous mark held by Carlos Vela (16 games).

Messi and his franchise records

Beyond his league-wide feats, Messi has firmly established himself as the foundational icon of Inter Miami CF. Here is the breakdown of his franchise records with the Herons:

• All-time leading goalscorer: The first player in club history to hit 100 goals across all official competitions.
• All-time assist leader: Holds the franchise record with 55+ assists across all competitions.
• Single-season points record: Spearheaded Inter Miami’s 2024 Supporters’ Shield triumph with a league-record 74 regular-season points.
• Most trophies with club: The most decorated player in franchise history, captaining Miami to the 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Supporters’ Shield, 2025 MLS Cup and 2026 Campeones Cup.

With this result, the Eastern Conference of the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings keep throwing the same two teams on top of the table. Hence, this is how the table is looking right now, with Nashville on top:

The MLS is entering its last stretch of the regular season

Only eight matchdays remain in the MLS regular season ahead of the playoffs. Hence, the intensity will ramp up in the upcoming weeks. Every week, the margins for error will get thinner and thinner.

Lionel Messi scored his 99th goal for Inter Miami, so he should clearly overcome that mark. However, that doesn’t mean by any stretch that Inter Miami will erase the nine-point deficit against Nashville.

What’s next for Inter Miami

Waiting for Cristian ‘Kily’ Gonzalez to get his paperwork to take over as head coach, Inter Miami have nine MLS games ahead of them before the postseason. Here’s their upcoming schedule:

• Cruz Azul (Campeones Cup) – Sep. 16
• San Diego – Sep. 20
• at Columbus – Sep. 27
• DC United – Oct. 10
• NYCFC – Oct. 14
• at Atlanta – Oct. 17
• at NYRB – Oct. 24
• Cincinnati – Oct. 28
• at New England – Nov. 1
• Charlotte – Nov. 7

It was a key goal as well, as Nashville started the game leading it and Inter Miami had to come back. First, an own goal tied the game, but now thanks to Messi’s strike, the took the momentary lead over the Eastern Conference’s first seed.

Nashville had a nine-point lead, but the game ended up in a tie. Hence, Inter Miami’s place in the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings kept them with the same deficit. Also, given the poor form Inter Miami has been in recently, this result could still definitely boost the moral and change the fortunes of the team. Nashville leads the conference after all.

Messi is still unquestionably different

The MLS is getting more and more stars. Messi is 39 years old, yet he is still unbelievable and clearly the biggest difference-maker in the whole league. The fact is that without him, Inter Miami’s expectations would be much lower despite having other stars on the roster.

In fact, Messi hit the post minutes after scoring. That would’ve been his 100th goal for the club. Inter Miami relies too much on what Messi can do, but he still delivers in every which way.

The tie was a heart-wrenching result

While the result itself is not bad because this was against a higher-seeded team, the fact is this was a win until the very last minute of the game, where a goal from Sam Surridge tied the game.

Surridge was Inter Miami’s nightmare as he scored a brace against them in this match. Inter Miami were too close to get a statement win thanks to Messi’s efforts.

How to watch Inter Miami vs Nashville SC in the USA

Inter Miami vs Nashville SC will be available to stream live on Apple TV in the United States. MLS has moved its full match package to Apple TV for the 2026 season, with every regular-season game available without blackouts.

Can I watch Inter Miami vs Nashville SC for free?

Eligible viewers can watch Inter Miami vs Nashville SC with Apple TV‘s current seven-day free trial. The official page advertises the entire 2026 season with a 7-day free trial, after which the U.S. subscription is listed at $14.99 per month.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Inter Miami and Nashville SC meet with major Eastern Conference implications, and the matchup comes less than a month after Nashville handed Miami one of its biggest defeats of the season. Nashville won 4-1 on August 15, with Hany Mukhtar scoring twice, in a result that underlined the gap between the two sides at that stage of the campaign.

The rematch at Nu Stadium gives Lionel Messi and Inter Miami an immediate opportunity to respond on home soil. Nashville have also established themselves as one of the league’s hottest teams heading into the September stretch.

The club’s recent run has put it at the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings, while Inter Miami remain among the Eastern Conference contenders. Nashville’s momentum has been highlighted by a four-game winning streak entering the weekend, with the club holding a significant advantage in the overall MLS race.

For Inter Miami, the fixture is particularly important because the team is navigating a congested portion of the schedule. Miami played Chicago Fire on September 9, just three days before returning home to face Nashville. The Herons will then host Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup on September 16, meaning the Nashville game sits between two demanding fixtures.

Inter Miami vs Nashville SC: Predicted Lineups

Inter Miami (4-3-3): Dayne St. Clair; Alexis Caicedo, Maximiliano Falcon, Casemiro, Ian Fray; Telasco Segovia, Yannick Bright, Rodrigo De Paul; German Berterame, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi.

Nashville SC (4-3-3): Ben Schwake; Daniel Lovitz, Maxwell Woledzi, Jack Maher, Reed Baker-Whiting; Elias Saad, Edvard Tagseth, Matthew Corcoran; Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, Cristian Espinoza.

What time is the Inter Miami vs Nashville SC match?

Inter Miami vs Nashville SC kicks off on Saturday, September 12, at 7:30 PM ET. The match will be played at Nu Stadium in Miami, with the official Inter Miami schedule confirming the 7:30 PM ET start.

• Eastern Time: 7:30 PM
• Central Time: 6:30 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:30 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:30 PM

Lionel Messi is expected to play once the whistle kicks the game off at Nu Stadium. Cristian ‘Killy‘ Gonzalez is still awaiting for his work permit to take over from Hoyos, but his idea must be starting to flow into the squad.

As per Nashville, they occupy the first place in the Eastern Conference with 53 points. Given that Inter Miami are third, they must avoid giving a direct competitor the chance to make a stand.

Confirmed lineup for Inter Miami

Hoyos will not count with names like Mateo Silvetti, Santiago Morales, and Tadeo Allende. The three players are injured, so adjustments have to be made. Still, it’s a very competent team the one predicted to start.

Inter Miami’s projected lineup is like this: Dayne St. Clair; Ian Fray, Casemiro, Maximiliano Falcon, Fricio Caicedo; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi, German Berterame, Luis Suarez.

Nashville SC confirmed lineup

Traditionally sticking with their trademark 4-3-3, Nashville will have to do without forward Warren Madrigal, who is dealing with a lower-body injury. However, they have depth to cover up.

This is how Nashville is predicted to start: Brian Schwake; Andy Najar, Jeison Palacios, Maxwell Woledzi, Reed Baker-Whiting; Patrick Yazbek, Matthew Corcoran, Hany Mukhtar; Cristian Espinoza, Sam Surridge, Alex Muyl.

That is why Messi is expected to suit up for Inter Miami in today’s Matchday 26 showdown against Nashville. Having traveled with the squad and facing no discipline or injury setbacks, there are no remaining obstacles to keep the Argentine superstar off the pitch.

Messi, who already boasts 18 goals this MLS season, remains the ultimate game-changer, a player capable of creating goal-scoring opportunities out of nothing every time he touches the ball.

After failing to capitalize on Nashville’s recent slip-up, Herons have a prime opportunity to make up ground today, as a victory would keep their hopes alive of climbing to the top of the table.

Predicted lineup for Inter Miami

With kickoff just hours away at Nu Stadium in Miami, here is how Inter are expected to line up against Nashville in this crucial Eastern Conference clash, with Messi in the lead:

• Goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair
• Defenders: Ian Fray (RB), Maximiliano Falcon (CB), Fricio Caicedo (CB), Yannick Bright (LB)
• Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Casemiro, Telasco Segovia
• Forwards: Lionel Messi (RW), Luis Suarez (ST), German Berterame (LW)

A victory would elevate Inter Miami to 47 points and cut Nashville’s lead to six. While their ultimate seed will depend on late-season results across the league, Miami’s immediate focus rests squarely on Messi steering them to three critical points.

With tonight’s draw, Inter Miami cut the gap on Nashville SC by just a single point after the conference leaders fell to Toronto FC earlier on Wednesday. The Florida club now sits on 44 points, nine points behind the Eastern Conference leader, as its realistic chances of contending for the Supporters’ Shield slip away, though the Herons remain on track to secure an MLS playoff spot.

Inter Miami’s primary goal remains claiming the Supporters’ Shield while mathematical possibilities endure, though the MLS postseason represents the most critical phase of the campaign. They still have nine matchdays left to achieve their objective.

Inter Miami’s draw featuring Messi’s contribution

Awaiting Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez to officially take charge of the squad in the coming days, Inter Miami endured a difficult start to the match. The Chicago Fire managed to open the scoring in the eighth minute through Lewandowski, who headed home a cross from the left wing to make it 1-0 with his seventh goal since arriving in MLS.

However, Inter Miami responded early in the second half with a goal generated by Messi‘s left foot. The Argentine star executed a corner kick to the penalty spot, where Casemiro rose to place a precise header off the right post, beating goalkeeper Christopher Brady.

Crucial matchup ahead for Inter Miami

Up next for Inter Miami is what stands as likely one of their most crucial fixtures of the season, offering a direct opportunity to close the gap and make up ground on Nashville.

Inter Miami will return to MLS action on Saturday, Sept. 12, when they face Nashville SC—the same club that handed them a 4-1 blowout just a few weeks ago.

2026 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings

1. Nashville – 53 points
2. Vancouver – 46 points (one game in hand)
3. Inter Miami – 44 points
4. Houston – 43 points
5. New England – 40 points