Inter Miami defeated by Columbus Crew as Messi nears free-kick record

Inter Miami suffered a 2-1 defeat against Columbus Crew in an MLS match held on September 28, 2026. The home side took the lead via a penalty kick from Josef Martinez in the 28th minute, but Lionel Messi equalized shortly after with a precise free-kick from a difficult angle. Despite the team's loss, Messi's goal marked a significant statistical milestone in his career.

This goal was the 76th free-kick strike of Messi's professional career, bringing him within two goals of the all-time record held by Marcelinho Carioca, who recorded 78 free-kick goals between 1988 and 2009. The list of top scorers from set-pieces includes notable players such as Juninho Pernambucano with 72 goals, Sinisa Mihajlovic with 67, and Cristiano Ronaldo with 63. Following this loss, Inter Miami continues its participation in the MLS season while Messi moves closer to potentially surpassing the historic tally held by the Brazilian midfielder.