Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami vs Columbus Crew in Cleveland? Star’s injury update

April 15, 2025 Admin

Lionel Messi has returned to action for Inter Miami since suffering a lower-grade adductor injury in March and is expected to be available for the April 19 matchup against the Columbus Crew in Cleveland.

Messi injured his adductor while scoring a goal against Atlanta United in an MLS regular-season game on March 16. The injury happened before the most recent FIFA international window and kept the 37-year-old sidelined for two FIFA World Cup qualifiers with Argentina’s national team.

Miami was one of the two teams that was off during that international window, allowing Messi to recover and return to the field against the Philadelphia Union on March 29. He played 35 minutes and scored a goal.

More on Lionel Messi: 2 goals from Lionel Messi, unusual mistakes vs Inter Miami lead Columbus Crew to 3-2 loss

Since then, Messi has appeared in every game for Miami, including both legs of the CONCACAF Champions Cup series against Los Angeles FC. Miami defeated LAFC 3-2 in aggregate goals to advance to the semifinals.

Miami’s Lionel Messi has recovered from an abductor injury and is expected to play against the Crew April 19.

The semifinal series against the Vancouver Whitecaps will start in Vancouver on April 24, five days following the Crew matchup.

The Crew’s home game against Miami was moved to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland prior to the start of the season. Both the Cleveland Browns, the stadium’s usual occupant, and the Crew are owned by Dee and Jimmy Haslam.

On of the main reasons the Haslams cited for moving the game to Cleveland, 145 miles away from the Crew’s Lower.com Field in Columbus, was the draw of Messi. Huntington Bank Field holds over 67,000 compared to Lower.com Field’s seating of 20,371.

Kickoff between the Crew and Miami is set for 4:30 p.m.

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15