Messi and De Paul back in action after World Cup heartbreak

Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul made their returns to Inter Miami, just 13 days on from a physically and emotionally draining World Cup final with Argentina. De Paul started and Messi came on as a 53rd-minute substitute in a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew.

The 39-year-old Messi had a couple of chances for another storybook moment in his MLS tenure, but he missed the mark minutes after replacing Dániel Pintér, nor could he find the winner in stoppage time after new Crew star attacker Brais Méndez scored the equalizer from a free kick in the 84th minute.

The Crew's first goal came off a disastrous sequence from Casemiro, in which he gave the ball away with a bad pass then capped it with an own goal. So while Miami may have been closer to full strength from a personnel standpoint, this is still not yet a team in its most polished and final form.

Even so, Miami sits second in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville SC for both the conference lead and Supporters' Shield race. For all its faults, it remains a dangerous team, but one that now heads into a Leagues Cup detour with games against San Luis, Monterrey and León over the next 10 days. Luis Suárez, who is in scorching scoring form, is suspended for the Leagues Cup after a spitting incident last year.

The return to league play, at Nashville on Aug. 15, could have significant table-topping implications. More immediately, it is significant that Messi and De Paul are back so soon, missing just two matches after the World Cup — both wins — and earning the praise of Miami's interim manager Guillermo Hoyos for their rapid returns.