Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, one of the greatest soccer players of all time and a former FC Barcelona superstar, entered the game after occupying the bench for 52 minutes against the Crew Aug. 1. Miami forward Luis Suarez, another former La Liga star, recorded a goal and an assist in the first half while former Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro made his home debut for Miami.
But it was a former La Liga player on the Crew side who came up big late.
Making his MLS debut after the Crew acquired him during the summer transfer window, former Real Sociedad attacking midfielder Brais Mendez helped Columbus earn a point in a 2-2 draw by scoring a free kick roughly 20 minutes after he took the field in the 61st minute.
“I am very happy about my debut and the goal,” Mendez said after the game via a translator. “… We want to keep this strong run going and earn wins to continue to move up in the table.”
The Crew matched their best result against a Messi-led Miami team and prevented him from scoring in his World Cup return. The Crew will enter Leagues Cup play with solid performances in their last two games, including a 2-1 victory over rival FC Cincinnati last week.
Here are three takeaways from the Crew’s late comeback and earned point against Miami.
Brais Mendez flashes for Columbus Crew
The Crew had an obvious missing piece entering the match against Miami: Max Arfsten.
By agreeing to transfer Arfsten to England Championship League club Middlesbrough, the Crew received a lucrative $7.5 million transfer fee but also lost a staple of their attacking and playmaking core.
Against Miami, Mendez filled the void.
A Spanish attacking midfielder who signed a designated player contract on July 2, Mendez answered the call when defender Sekou Bangoura earned a free kick for Columbus just outside the right corner of the penalty area in the 84th minute. Mendez hooked the shot to the low part of the left post, which ricocheted into the net for the equalizer.
“We just saw glimpses of what he’s capable of doing with his left foot but also with his IQ,” said Crew coach Laurent Courtois. “He just needs to build his fitness up, be aware of the system and get to know his compañereos, his teammates. Just class.”
Though he signed at the beginning of July, Mendez did not touch down in Columbus until July 22 due to visa issues. He began training with the team two days later and made his first appearance against a strong Miami team a week after he began conditioning.
“From the start, the team has made me feel like I am part of the family. They have received me well since the first day, even before the transfer was done,” said Mendez. “I am very happy to be here, and I hope to achieve big things for this club.”
Ironically, Mendez became the first Crew player to score in their MLS debut since Max Arfsten in 2023. Mendez finished with three shots, two of which were on target.
Early mistakes stole Columbus Crew’s early momentum, Miami’s Luis Suarez took advantage
Pick any synonym for “messy,” and it would appropriately describe the first half between the Crew and Miami. In the 16th minute, Luis Suarez stunted the Crew’s possession play by sending a high-looping arc shot over goalie Patrick Schulte’s head for the lead.
When Suarez took the shot from near the half-line after defender Andre Gomes lost possession, Schulte lurked near the front of the penalty area, placing him too far from position to run back and attempt a save chance.
“We know [Suarez’s] savviness, cheekiness. He is a world-class player, and any type of mistakes, he already has the next play in his head,” Courtois said. “I asked my guys to try a lot of things and obviously we were aware of not losing the ball in those areas. But that’s also the style of play we want to have, so we can’t have it both ways.”
Suarez may be in the late stages of his lengthy soccer career, but the 39-year-old forward still has gas left in the tank. His long-range goal made him the fifth player in MLS history to record at least 10 goals and five assists in three consecutive MLS seasons.
Then, during extra time of the first half, Suarez perfectly timed a run into the penalty area while seeking a through ball. Instead of attempting to score, he looped a pass to the head of defender Noah Allen for a creative assist and the 2-1 advantage entering the second half.
It was Casemiro redirecting a cross from Taha Habroune into Miami’s net for an own goal that kept the Crew within a goal entering the second half.
Columbus Crew played stout defense against Lionel Messi in tough road environment
Mendez’s debut might’ve been the most consequential, but two other players debuted for the Crew against Miami: midfielder Lautaro Giaccone in the 72nd minute and defender Brooks Lennon in the 86th minute. Their not-so-simple task was to defend against eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who returned to the MLS for the first time since his eight-goal campaign in the 2026 World Cup.
Though he did not appear for the first 52 minutes, Messi entered and immediately took a barely off target shot in front of an energetic home crowd. Regardless of his entrance and 43% possession in the second half, the Crew locked down Messi and his teammates.
“We were struggling,” said Courtois, “They were pushing hard. We had a little bit of tightness in the legs. It’s a lot of minutes for some guys that still need to be back to their full level.”
Past the 89th minute, Miami fired five shots, two of which Schulte saved, including a shot by Messi In the 93rd minute. Messi’s last shot sailed over the center of the net.
The Crew will take the momentum from their late effort into three Leagues Cup games beginning on Aug. 4.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Takeaways: Brais Mendez steps up in Crew debut to earn draw vs. Miami
Reporting by Dan Aulbach, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Aulbach, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
