NGLionel Messi made his return to Major League Soccer (MLS) on August 1, 2026, playing for Inter Miami CF in a 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew. Messi came on in the second half but failed to score, while Uruguay's Luis Suarez scored for Inter Miami in the 16th minute. A controversial own goal by Casemiro leveled the score at 1-1, and Columbus's Brais Mendez equalized with a free-kick in the 84th minute. The draw ended Inter Miami's six-game winning streak and kept them in second place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, other MLS matches saw Los Angeles FC and Vancouver Whitecaps draw 1-1, with Son Heung-min scoring for LA and Thomas Mueller responding with a penalty for Vancouver.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports event without any political implications. It focuses solely on the outcome of a soccer match, player performances, and league standings. There is no mention of political figures, policies, or contentious social issues, making the subject apolitical. As such, the story
