Lionel Messi lined up a free kick on the right wing in Columbus on Sunday. The free kick came from a wide position on the right side of the field. Instead, his left foot curled the ball into the far top corner.
The goal tied the match at 1-1 for Inter Miami. Columbus still won 2-1 after Jamal Thiaré scored in second-half stoppage time. Messi’s goal came in the 33rd minute before Columbus scored the winner late.
Messi scores from a difficult free kick
Messi stood over a free kick from the right side of the field in the 33rd minute. Columbus had taken the lead only 5 minutes earlier. The position left Messi with a difficult angle for a direct attempt.
ESPN described the free kick as coming from an improbable angle. Messi chose to shoot directly rather than send the ball into the penalty area. His left-footed strike curled across the face of goal.
The ball reached the far top corner beyond Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. The goal tied the match at 1-1. It was Messi’s first goal of the game.
Different angles captured Messi’s free kick
Yahoo Sports collected several video angles of Messi’s free kick. The collection includes English and Spanish-language television broadcasts. It also includes footage recorded from behind the goal.
Fan videos provide additional views from inside the stadium. Some were recorded from behind Messi as he took the free kick. Those clips show his position in relation to the goal.
The broadcast footage captures the setup before Messi takes the kick. Other recordings follow the ball as it travels toward the far corner. Together, the videos document the goal from several positions inside the stadium.
Another direct free kick joins the list
ESPN reported that Messi’s goal against Columbus was another direct free kick for Inter Miami. The goal added to his free-kick total for the club. It also increased his reported career total from direct free kicks.
A direct free kick allows a player to shoot directly at goal without another player touching the ball first. Messi took this attempt from a wide position on the right. His shot reached the far corner of the goal.
Yahoo Sports cited an unofficial count of 76 career free-kick goals for Messi after the match. Career free-kick totals can vary between statistical sources.
How the tally has grown since 2025
ESPN reported Messi’s free kick against Porto at the 2025 Club World Cup as the 68th of his career. He scored in the 54th minute of the Group A match. Inter Miami defeated Porto 2-1.
Telasco Segovia had tied the match for Miami in the 47th minute. Messi’s free kick 7 minutes later gave Miami the lead. The score remained 2-1 through the final whistle.
Messi also scored from a free kick against Columbus in 2024. The goal came in first-half stoppage time during Miami’s 3-2 victory. That win secured the 2024 Supporters’ Shield for Inter Miami.
How the first half set the stage
Columbus took the lead in the 28th minute through a Josef Martínez penalty. The former Inter Miami forward converted the spot kick for his first MLS goal with Columbus. Martínez previously played alongside Messi at Miami in 2023.
Messi equalized in the 33rd minute with his direct free kick. The goal brought Miami level before halftime. The teams entered the break tied at 1-1.
Inter Miami entered the match as the reigning MLS Cup champions. Columbus hosted the game at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio. The match took place on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
Fun fact: Lionel Messi surpassed Gonzalo Higuaín’s Inter Miami regular-season goal contributions record in April 2025 and surpassed Higuaín’s club regular-season goals record against Columbus in June 2025.
A late goal decided the match
Patrick Schulte denied Messi from outside the penalty area in the second half. Messi also sent another attempt wide earlier in the half. The match remained tied at 1-1 late in the game.
Miami substitute Santiago Morales received a second yellow card in stoppage time. The resulting red card left Inter Miami with 10 players. Columbus continued attacking in the closing minutes.
Jamal Thiaré scored for Columbus deep in stoppage time. His goal gave the Crew a 2-1 lead. Columbus held that advantage through the final whistle.
Messi prepares for Argentina farewell match
The Columbus match came before Messi’s scheduled return to Argentina duty. He was called up for Argentina’s Oct. 6 farewell friendly against Benin. Reuters reported the match following Messi’s announcement that he would retire from international soccer.
Messi was 39 when he scored against Columbus on Sunday. His free kick tied the match in the 33rd minute. It was another goal in his recent meetings with the Crew.
Messi scored twice against Columbus during Miami’s 3-2 victory in 2024. He scored twice and added 3 assists in a 5-1 win over the Crew in 2025. He added another goal against Columbus in the September 2026 meeting.
Where the free kick leaves Messi’s record chase
Yahoo Sports cited an unofficial count of 76 career free-kick goals for Messi after the Columbus match. Its report placed him second on the all-time list. Marcelinho Carioca was listed first with 78.
The totals are not maintained as an official record by FIFA. Different statistical sources can use different methods when counting free-kick goals. For that reason, the figures should be treated as reported totals rather than an official ranking.
Messi has scored direct free kicks for both club and country during his career. His total includes goals recorded during his years with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina. The Columbus strike added another direct free kick to that career record.
TL;DR:
- Messi curled a direct free kick from the right side into the far top corner.
- The goal tied the match at 1-1 in the 33rd minute.
- Yahoo Sports cited an unofficial career total of 76 free-kick goals for Messi.
- Jamal Thiaré scored in stoppage time to give Columbus a 2-1 win.
- Multiple broadcast and fan angles captured Messi’s free kick.
Read More From This Brand:
- Lionel Messi’s remarkable journey with Argentina
- Lionel Messi’s final Argentina gesture leaves teammates speechless
- Lionel Messi built a career few soccer legends can match
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
