COLUMBUS, Ohio - Lionel Messi and Inter Miami carry the best away record in Major League Soccer into ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on Sunday, where a desperate Columbus Crew side needs a statement result to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Inter Miami, third in the Eastern Conference with 46 points on a 12W-4L-10D record, arrive in Columbus having just won the Campeones Cup over LIGA MX club Cruz Azul - the club’s fourth trophy in as many years and its first title at Nu Stadium in Downtown Miami. The Herons then stumbled to a 2-2 home draw against San Diego FC, with Anders Dreyer’s brace canceling out goals from Messi and Luis Suárez, including an 82nd-minute equalizer by the Danish international.
Messi, the reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP, leads the entire league with 33 goal contributions - 20 goals and 13 assists - heading into Sunday’s match before he plays his farewell match for Argentina. Suárez, who lost his starting job during Miami’s run to MLS Cup 2025, has reclaimed the club’s starting striker role this season with 13 goals and 8 assists. Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has added 4 goals and 12 assists in his first full MLS season, while Brazilian international Casemiro has played predominantly at center back since joining the Herons over the summer.
Miami’s road numbers are the league’s best at 8W-2L-3D for 27 points, a sharp contrast to their home struggles at Nu Stadium, where they have earned just 19 of a possible 39 points on a 4W-2L-7D record. The Herons are targeting a top-four Eastern Conference finish and a chance to become the first back-to-back MLS Cup champions since the LA Galaxy won consecutive titles in 2011 and 2012.
Columbus enters Sunday sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference with 26 points on a 7W-14L-5D record - seven points behind FC Cincinnati, who hold the East’s ninth and final playoff spot with eight regular-season games remaining. The Crew snapped a two-game league losing streak with a 2-0 win at CF Montréal, with Mohammed Farsi and Brais Méndez scoring second-half goals, and also beat Orlando City 2-1 in midweek to clinch a spot and hosting rights in the 2026 US Open Cup Final - the club’s first USOC final appearance since 2010.
Marquee summer signing Brais Méndez, acquired from LaLiga side Real Sociedad, has produced 3 goals and 3 assists in his first nine MLS games. Newly arrived Designated Player Santiago Rodríguez contributed two assists against Orlando to help Columbus reach the cup final. Former Landon Donovan MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner Josef Martínez is still seeking his first league goal with the Crew, while 20-year-old homegrown midfielder and U.S. youth international Taha Habroune has become an every-game starter.
Betting markets slightly favor Inter Miami, who hold 44% of the market share compared to 35% for Columbus, according to figures current as of Thursday. Kickoff at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field is Sunday on Sunday Night Soccer.