As anticipation builds for one of the most high-profile fixtures of the early MLS season, Inter Miami prepares to face the Columbus Crew this Saturday, April 19, in what promises to be a historic clash. The match will take place not in Columbus, but at the 67,000-seat Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, a surprising venue change that has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation.
At the heart of the buzz is, of course, Lionel Messi, whose presence continues to be both a magnet for fans and a logistical phenomenon in MLS. But as game day approaches, fans are asking one critical question: Will Messi take the field in Cleveland alongside Luis Suarez?
The matchup between the league’s two remaining unbeaten sides—Inter Miami and the Columbus Crew—already carried enough weight to draw national attention. But the decision to relocate the game from Columbus’ Lower.com Field to Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field elevated the occasion to something far grander.
This move, orchestrated by Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who own both the Crew and the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, was largely influenced by one man: Messi. “The draw of Messi was a major reason behind relocating the game,” said sources close to the Haslams, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch. The couple’s civic ties to Cleveland and logistical ease of hosting the game at the Browns’ venue made the relocation a business decision as much as a sporting one.
Still, the move hasn’t sat well with some fans, especially since the team is effectively sacrificing home advantage by shifting 145 miles away from their base. That said, this is not Messi’s first encounter with the Crew. Last October, he scored twice and added an assist in Miami’s 3-2 win at Lower.com Field, giving fans in Columbus a firsthand look at his brilliance.
Messi’s recent injury and return
Fueling the uncertainty around the Argentine’s status for the Cleveland clash is his recent recovery from a lower-grade adductor injury, sustained while scoring against Atlanta United on March 16.
The injury sidelined Messi during the international break, keeping him out of Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers. But luckily for Inter Miami, the league’s schedule gave the 37-year-old some breathing room.
After missing time, the veteran returned to the pitch on March 29 against the Philadelphia Union, playing 35 minutes and finding the net once again. Since then, he has featured in every game for Miami, including both legs of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final against LAFC, helping Inter advance with a 3-2 aggregate win. So, will the Herons’ captain be available for this weekend’s showdown?
Will Messi play alongside Luis Suarez?
As per The Columbus Dispatch, Lionel Messi is expected to be available for Inter Miami’s fixture against the Columbus Crew in Cleveland. Following his recovery, he has shown no lingering effects from the injury, and all indications are that he will be in the starting lineup for one of MLS’s most anticipated games of the season.
That’s good news not just for Inter Miami fans, but also for the more than 60,000 ticket holders in Cleveland who are banking on the opportunity to witness the legend live.
