Match story
- Columbus Crew fired more attempts (13 vs 5 shots).
- Columbus Crew was more accurate in front of goal (54% on target vs 40%).
- Columbus Crew held more of the ball (67% possession).
Columbus Crew defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-2 in Major League Soccer. The fixture is part of the Regular Season - 25 stage in the 2015 season. The match was played at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus. Chris Penso, USA officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Columbus Crew vs Sporting Kansas City meeting in Major League Soccer with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Major League Soccer
San Jose Earthquakes
Miami FCRecorded meetings: 2 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Columbus Crew defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-2 in Major League Soccer. The fixture is part of the Regular Season - 25 stage in the 2015 season. The match was played at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus. Chris Penso, USA officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Columbus Crew vs Sporting Kansas City meeting in Major League Soccer with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Major League SoccerSan Jose EarthquakesMiami FCRecorded meetings: 2 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
⚽ League Cup updates, 8pm BST kick-off at the Riverside⚽ Follow on TikTok | Sign up for Football Daily | Mail BillyWe’re 10 minutes from kick-off at the Riverside. There will be no hydration breaks and, as far as I’m aware, no full squad walkouts. Phew.Middlesbrough have spent over £20m this summer in their bid to reach the Premier League:Will Lankshear (£10m, Tottenham)Max Arfsten (£5.6m, Columbus Crew)Kyle Joseph (£4m, Hull)Jeremy Sarmiento (£3.4m, Brighton)Sebastian Berhalter (£1.65m, Vancouver Whitecaps)“We lost some good players … But we’ve also got some very talented players in. I think that when we start the season, we’re going to be at a higher level. I think we have a higher potential in the players we have here, and that we’re going to have a stronger squad when we start the season.Credit to the people above me, they have been doing a brilliant job. We will see if we add some more, which we hopefully will do. Continue reading...
Inter Miami Chief Business Officer Xavier Asensi revealed the club's plan to keep Lionel Messi connected once he retires. Lionel Messi has already secured his future at Inter Miami long after he hangs up his boots, according to the club’s Chief Business Officer, Xavier Asensi. In an interview with MARCA, Asensi revealed that Miami has a clear plan in place for the Argentine once his playing days are over, stating that Messi has earned the right to leave the game on his own terms. “There will come a moment when Leo is no longer playing… It would be reckless not to think about the post-Leo era,” Asensi said, adding that Messi, more than anyone, has earned the right to walk away from soccer whenever he chooses. That “post-Leo” planning, according to Asensi, already includes a concrete role for the World Cup winner within the organization once his career comes to an end. That role would see Messi become part of Inter Miami‘s ownership group. “The idea is that, once he stops playing, he’ll have an option with Inter to invest his time… once he’s no longer an active player, he’ll become part of Inter Miami’s shareholding group,” he explained. Under current MLS statutes, Messi cannot legally hold an ownership stake while still an active player, meaning the shareholding role would only take effect once he formally retires. Lionel Messi celebrates a goal for Inter Miami. (Getty Images) For now, though, that moment remains on hold. Messi’s contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of 2028, and he has already returned to action this season following a vacation after Argentina’s World Cup campaign. Messi’s grand return Messi’s comeback began at the MLS, coming off the bench in the 53rd minute of Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew on August 1, just days after leading Argentina to their second straight World Cup final appearance. Despite not starting, he immediately looked sharp, leading the match with four shots and five touches inside the box. Four days later, Messi was back in the starting XI for Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup opener against Atletico San Luis, and he delivered in style. After San Luis struck first inside four minutes, Messi equalized in the 13th and put Miami ahead for good with his second of the night in the 32nd, as Inter Miami rallied to a 4-2 win at NU Stadium. The brace also made him Leagues Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 14 goals in the competition, surpassing Denis Bouanga.
With a brace against Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire brand new star Robert Lewandowski claimed the Player of the Matchday award in his third MLS game, prompting questions on how much it took for Lionel Messi to achieve his first one. Robert Lewandowski has already made an immediate splash in Major League Soccer, earning MLS Player of the Matchday honors in just his third appearance with the Chicago Fire. By securing the award so quickly into his tenure, the Polish superstar naturally invited comparisons to how long it took Lionel Messi to claim his first matchday honor with Inter Miami. Following back-to-back frustrating losses (a 3-2 defeat against Inter Miami and a 3-1 setback against NYCFC in which Lewandowski was held off the scoresheet), the Fire returned home to face Charlotte FC. Although the visitors opened the scoring in the 18th minute, the Polish legend stepped up to spearhead a quick comeback. In the 20th minute, Lewandowski netted the equalizer following a crisp team buildup, hitting a low shot from the edge of the box to log his first official MLS goal. He then completed his brace in the 68th minute, capitalizing on a sequence that originated with goalkeeper Chris Brady to coolly finish past the Charlotte keeper. Marking his home debut at Soldier Field, Lewandowski’s two-goal performance propelled the Fire to a comeback victory and three valuable points, lifting Chicago to fourth place in the standings. In the process, he became the first Fire player to win Player of the Matchday since Tom Barlow and the first Polish international to earn the honor since Karol Swiderski in 2022. Already lighting up the league. 🤩Robert Lewandowski wins Player of the Matchday pres. by @MichelobULTRA! pic.twitter.com/qiLKmklMVQ— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2026 Messi’s road to his first Player of the Matchday honor Arriving as a marquee free-agent signing following his stint at FC Barcelona, Lewandowski needed just three matches to assert his superstar status in MLS. Lionel Messi has reigned as the undisputed face of the league since his arrival in 2023, but his journey to his first domestic matchday award took longer than expected. Messi made his official MLS debut on August 26, 2023, against the New York Red Bulls, appearing in only six league matches during the second half of that campaign due to nagging injuries. The Argentine legend made his biggest initial mark in the 2023 Leagues Cup, scoring in all seven matches to lead Inter Miami to the title over Nashville SC. Entering the 2024 MLS campaign, Messi hit the ground running following a full preseason in South Florida. He bagged a brace in a 5-0 derby victory against Orlando City early in the season, though he was narrowly edged out for the matchday recognition for that specific fixture. Messi’s first MLS Player of the Matchday award eventually arrived on April 13, 2024, following Matchday 9. He earned the accolade after registering a goal and an assist in Inter Miami’s 3-2 road victory over Sporting Kansas City in front of 72,610 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. From his debut against the Red Bulls, it took Messi 11 MLS matches to capture his first Player of the Matchday recognition. Since breaking through, however, he has cemented his league dominance by collecting a record 14 Matchday honors, including two already during the 2026 campaign.
Nemanja Matic spoke again about his time at Roma. Interviewed by La Repubblica, the Sassuolo midfielder revisited his experience in the capital, focusing on his bond with the Giallorossi and the warmt...
Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos explained how Lionel Messi was able to return to the MLS in less than two weeks from the 2026 World Cup final. Lionel Messi has officially returned to the pitch for Inter Miami following Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final. Less than two weeks after squaring off against Spain, head coach Guillermo Hoyos shed light on the driving forces behind the superstar’s MLS rapid turn-around. Following the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, Messi took a brief vacation before reporting back to Inter Miami’s Fort Lauderdale training facility on Wednesday. With only a couple of team sessions under his belt, the legendary forward suited up to aid the Herons in their ongoing quest for MLS hardware. On Saturday, Aug. 1, Inter Miami hosted the Columbus Crew. Rather than watching from a luxury box as originally expected, Messi was named to the matchday squad as a substitute. The captain entered in the 53rd minute and made an immediate impact, firing four shots (one on target), though the Herons ultimately settled for a 2-2 draw after Columbus midfielder Brais Mendez scored an 84th-minute equalizer. In his postgame press conference, Hoyos praised the dedication of his squad, singling out international stars Messi and Rodrigo De Paul: “I want to thank all the players for the effort they put in. I especially want to thank Leo and Rodri for traveling and showing up so soon after the World Cup. That was very important. This is a difficult, competitive league. We were winning in the 86th minute and wanted three points, but ended up with one. The game escaped us in the final minutes.“ Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against the Columbus Crew. Hoyos on what drove Messi’s accelerated return Despite turning 39 during the 2026 World Cup, Messi defied expectations by making his return to competitive play in less than a fortnight. Instead of waiting for the club’s upcoming Leagues Cup debut, the Argentine legend insisted on getting match minutes under his belt against Columbus. When asked how Messi managed to stay fit and return so quickly, Hoyos offered a simple explanation: “Love for the game. The feeling towards a team as well. He is a football player, and when we are football players, we never leave football behind. Today I am a manager, but I will never stop being a football player. It is a very strong feeling.“ Hoyos’ sentiment aligns with Messi’s actions during his abbreviated time off. While resting in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, the star was spotted supporting Leones FC (the fourth-division club presided over by his brother, Matias) proving that even during his downtime, soccer remains front and center. Inter Miami now shifts its focus to the 2026 Leagues Cup, opening tournament play against Mexican side Atletico San Luis on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Nu Stadium. Following his cameo against the Crew, Messi’s participation is all but guaranteed.
Inter Miami face Columbus Crew, and many are wondering whether Lionel Messi will return to action for the Herons. Lionel Messi’s status for Inter Miami’s home clash with the Columbus Crew remains unresolved hours before kickoff. While Guillermo Hoyos stopped short of confirming his presence in Friday’s press conference, the Argentine could still be present at Nu Stadium regardless. Messi added a new layer of intrigue Saturday morning by posting an Instagram story referencing tonight’s match, fueling speculation that he could be involved in some capacity, even if only off the bench. The same situation applies to Rodrigo De Paul, who rejoined the squad alongside Messi and could see some action tonight. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET at Inter Miami‘s home stadium in Fort Lauderdale, with the stakes raised by the fact that a win would send the Herons to the top of the Eastern Conference. If Messi and De Paul don’t feature tonight, both are expected to be available for Wednesday’s Leagues Cup opener against Atletico San Luis, which lines up with the end of their mandated post-World Cup rest period. Fútbol at home under the lights 💫 #MIAvCLB pic.twitter.com/wx8D52D3R2— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 1, 2026 Inter Miami projected lineup German Berterame won’t be available for this match due to concussion protocol, sustained during the win over CF Montreal. This would be the projected starting XI if Messi and De Paul begin the match on the bench: Ríos Novo; Reguilón, Micael, Fray, Mura; Ruiz, Casemiro, Bright, Silvetti; Plambeck, Suárez. Columbus Crew projected lineup For this match, Laurent Courtois is expected to send out the following side at Nu Stadium: Schulte; Zawadzki, Camacho, Moreira; Arfsten, Bangoura, Chambost; Farsi; Gazdag, Habroune; Thiaré.
Chelsea have been fined £10m and given a suspended ban from registering new players for two transfer windows for breaching rules relating to payments to agents between 2009 and 2022. Owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital self-reported 74 breaches of FA rules when they purchased the club in 2022. Chelsea admitted making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018.
Lionel Messi is back in training with Inter Miami ahead of their meeting with the Columbus Crew, and Casemiro cannot wait to play with him. The post Casemiro: I joined Miami to play with ‘God of football’ Messi appeared first on SoccerNews.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
⚽ League Cup updates, 8pm BST kick-off at the Riverside⚽ Follow on TikTok | Sign up for Football Daily | Mail BillyWe’re 10 minutes from kick-off at the Riverside. There will be no hydration breaks and, as far as I’m aware, no full squad walkouts. Phew.Middlesbrough have spent over £20m this summer in their bid to reach the Premier League:Will Lankshear (£10m, Tottenham)Max Arfsten (£5.6m, Columbus Crew)Kyle Joseph (£4m, Hull)Jeremy Sarmiento (£3.4m, Brighton)Sebastian Berhalter (£1.65m, Vancouver Whitecaps)“We lost some good players … But we’ve also got some very talented players in. I think that when we start the season, we’re going to be at a higher level. I think we have a higher potential in the players we have here, and that we’re going to have a stronger squad when we start the season.Credit to the people above me, they have been doing a brilliant job. We will see if we add some more, which we hopefully will do. Continue reading...
Inter Miami Chief Business Officer Xavier Asensi revealed the club's plan to keep Lionel Messi connected once he retires. Lionel Messi has already secured his future at Inter Miami long after he hangs up his boots, according to the club’s Chief Business Officer, Xavier Asensi. In an interview with MARCA, Asensi revealed that Miami has a clear plan in place for the Argentine once his playing days are over, stating that Messi has earned the right to leave the game on his own terms. “There will come a moment when Leo is no longer playing… It would be reckless not to think about the post-Leo era,” Asensi said, adding that Messi, more than anyone, has earned the right to walk away from soccer whenever he chooses. That “post-Leo” planning, according to Asensi, already includes a concrete role for the World Cup winner within the organization once his career comes to an end. That role would see Messi become part of Inter Miami‘s ownership group. “The idea is that, once he stops playing, he’ll have an option with Inter to invest his time… once he’s no longer an active player, he’ll become part of Inter Miami’s shareholding group,” he explained. Under current MLS statutes, Messi cannot legally hold an ownership stake while still an active player, meaning the shareholding role would only take effect once he formally retires. Lionel Messi celebrates a goal for Inter Miami. (Getty Images) For now, though, that moment remains on hold. Messi’s contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of 2028, and he has already returned to action this season following a vacation after Argentina’s World Cup campaign. Messi’s grand return Messi’s comeback began at the MLS, coming off the bench in the 53rd minute of Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew on August 1, just days after leading Argentina to their second straight World Cup final appearance. Despite not starting, he immediately looked sharp, leading the match with four shots and five touches inside the box. Four days later, Messi was back in the starting XI for Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup opener against Atletico San Luis, and he delivered in style. After San Luis struck first inside four minutes, Messi equalized in the 13th and put Miami ahead for good with his second of the night in the 32nd, as Inter Miami rallied to a 4-2 win at NU Stadium. The brace also made him Leagues Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 14 goals in the competition, surpassing Denis Bouanga.
With a brace against Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire brand new star Robert Lewandowski claimed the Player of the Matchday award in his third MLS game, prompting questions on how much it took for Lionel Messi to achieve his first one. Robert Lewandowski has already made an immediate splash in Major League Soccer, earning MLS Player of the Matchday honors in just his third appearance with the Chicago Fire. By securing the award so quickly into his tenure, the Polish superstar naturally invited comparisons to how long it took Lionel Messi to claim his first matchday honor with Inter Miami. Following back-to-back frustrating losses (a 3-2 defeat against Inter Miami and a 3-1 setback against NYCFC in which Lewandowski was held off the scoresheet), the Fire returned home to face Charlotte FC. Although the visitors opened the scoring in the 18th minute, the Polish legend stepped up to spearhead a quick comeback. In the 20th minute, Lewandowski netted the equalizer following a crisp team buildup, hitting a low shot from the edge of the box to log his first official MLS goal. He then completed his brace in the 68th minute, capitalizing on a sequence that originated with goalkeeper Chris Brady to coolly finish past the Charlotte keeper. Marking his home debut at Soldier Field, Lewandowski’s two-goal performance propelled the Fire to a comeback victory and three valuable points, lifting Chicago to fourth place in the standings. In the process, he became the first Fire player to win Player of the Matchday since Tom Barlow and the first Polish international to earn the honor since Karol Swiderski in 2022. Already lighting up the league. 🤩Robert Lewandowski wins Player of the Matchday pres. by @MichelobULTRA! pic.twitter.com/qiLKmklMVQ— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2026 Messi’s road to his first Player of the Matchday honor Arriving as a marquee free-agent signing following his stint at FC Barcelona, Lewandowski needed just three matches to assert his superstar status in MLS. Lionel Messi has reigned as the undisputed face of the league since his arrival in 2023, but his journey to his first domestic matchday award took longer than expected. Messi made his official MLS debut on August 26, 2023, against the New York Red Bulls, appearing in only six league matches during the second half of that campaign due to nagging injuries. The Argentine legend made his biggest initial mark in the 2023 Leagues Cup, scoring in all seven matches to lead Inter Miami to the title over Nashville SC. Entering the 2024 MLS campaign, Messi hit the ground running following a full preseason in South Florida. He bagged a brace in a 5-0 derby victory against Orlando City early in the season, though he was narrowly edged out for the matchday recognition for that specific fixture. Messi’s first MLS Player of the Matchday award eventually arrived on April 13, 2024, following Matchday 9. He earned the accolade after registering a goal and an assist in Inter Miami’s 3-2 road victory over Sporting Kansas City in front of 72,610 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. From his debut against the Red Bulls, it took Messi 11 MLS matches to capture his first Player of the Matchday recognition. Since breaking through, however, he has cemented his league dominance by collecting a record 14 Matchday honors, including two already during the 2026 campaign.
Nemanja Matic spoke again about his time at Roma. Interviewed by La Repubblica, the Sassuolo midfielder revisited his experience in the capital, focusing on his bond with the Giallorossi and the warmt...
Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos explained how Lionel Messi was able to return to the MLS in less than two weeks from the 2026 World Cup final. Lionel Messi has officially returned to the pitch for Inter Miami following Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final. Less than two weeks after squaring off against Spain, head coach Guillermo Hoyos shed light on the driving forces behind the superstar’s MLS rapid turn-around. Following the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, Messi took a brief vacation before reporting back to Inter Miami’s Fort Lauderdale training facility on Wednesday. With only a couple of team sessions under his belt, the legendary forward suited up to aid the Herons in their ongoing quest for MLS hardware. On Saturday, Aug. 1, Inter Miami hosted the Columbus Crew. Rather than watching from a luxury box as originally expected, Messi was named to the matchday squad as a substitute. The captain entered in the 53rd minute and made an immediate impact, firing four shots (one on target), though the Herons ultimately settled for a 2-2 draw after Columbus midfielder Brais Mendez scored an 84th-minute equalizer. In his postgame press conference, Hoyos praised the dedication of his squad, singling out international stars Messi and Rodrigo De Paul: “I want to thank all the players for the effort they put in. I especially want to thank Leo and Rodri for traveling and showing up so soon after the World Cup. That was very important. This is a difficult, competitive league. We were winning in the 86th minute and wanted three points, but ended up with one. The game escaped us in the final minutes.“ Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against the Columbus Crew. Hoyos on what drove Messi’s accelerated return Despite turning 39 during the 2026 World Cup, Messi defied expectations by making his return to competitive play in less than a fortnight. Instead of waiting for the club’s upcoming Leagues Cup debut, the Argentine legend insisted on getting match minutes under his belt against Columbus. When asked how Messi managed to stay fit and return so quickly, Hoyos offered a simple explanation: “Love for the game. The feeling towards a team as well. He is a football player, and when we are football players, we never leave football behind. Today I am a manager, but I will never stop being a football player. It is a very strong feeling.“ Hoyos’ sentiment aligns with Messi’s actions during his abbreviated time off. While resting in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, the star was spotted supporting Leones FC (the fourth-division club presided over by his brother, Matias) proving that even during his downtime, soccer remains front and center. Inter Miami now shifts its focus to the 2026 Leagues Cup, opening tournament play against Mexican side Atletico San Luis on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Nu Stadium. Following his cameo against the Crew, Messi’s participation is all but guaranteed.
Inter Miami face Columbus Crew, and many are wondering whether Lionel Messi will return to action for the Herons. Lionel Messi’s status for Inter Miami’s home clash with the Columbus Crew remains unresolved hours before kickoff. While Guillermo Hoyos stopped short of confirming his presence in Friday’s press conference, the Argentine could still be present at Nu Stadium regardless. Messi added a new layer of intrigue Saturday morning by posting an Instagram story referencing tonight’s match, fueling speculation that he could be involved in some capacity, even if only off the bench. The same situation applies to Rodrigo De Paul, who rejoined the squad alongside Messi and could see some action tonight. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET at Inter Miami‘s home stadium in Fort Lauderdale, with the stakes raised by the fact that a win would send the Herons to the top of the Eastern Conference. If Messi and De Paul don’t feature tonight, both are expected to be available for Wednesday’s Leagues Cup opener against Atletico San Luis, which lines up with the end of their mandated post-World Cup rest period. Fútbol at home under the lights 💫 #MIAvCLB pic.twitter.com/wx8D52D3R2— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 1, 2026 Inter Miami projected lineup German Berterame won’t be available for this match due to concussion protocol, sustained during the win over CF Montreal. This would be the projected starting XI if Messi and De Paul begin the match on the bench: Ríos Novo; Reguilón, Micael, Fray, Mura; Ruiz, Casemiro, Bright, Silvetti; Plambeck, Suárez. Columbus Crew projected lineup For this match, Laurent Courtois is expected to send out the following side at Nu Stadium: Schulte; Zawadzki, Camacho, Moreira; Arfsten, Bangoura, Chambost; Farsi; Gazdag, Habroune; Thiaré.
Chelsea have been fined £10m and given a suspended ban from registering new players for two transfer windows for breaching rules relating to payments to agents between 2009 and 2022. Owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital self-reported 74 breaches of FA rules when they purchased the club in 2022. Chelsea admitted making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018.
Lionel Messi is back in training with Inter Miami ahead of their meeting with the Columbus Crew, and Casemiro cannot wait to play with him. The post Casemiro: I joined Miami to play with ‘God of football’ Messi appeared first on SoccerNews.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
