Messi, Inter Miami can clinch regular-season title with win at Columbus on Wednesday

Lionel Messi will make his first appearance against the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew on Wednesday night in one of the most highly anticipated regular-season games in recent memory.

With a victory on the road, Inter Miami clinches home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and secures the Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded to the MLS team with the best regular-season record.

Miami has been atop the MLS standings all season, has lost just four of 31 games and is a virtual lock for the Shield with three games remaining.

But Messi and his teammates would rather not wait. They want to head home from Columbus with the prize in hand and the luxury of knowing all their playoff matches (minus one in the first-round best-of-3 series) will be in the confines of cozy Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Although finishing the season with the league’s best record is not the ultimate prize in MLS, as it is in most leagues around the world, Miami’s star-studded team is hungry to add the Shield and MLS Cup to its trophy cabinet, which so far houses just the 2023 Leagues Cup.

“Hopefully, we can clinch, but we have a very difficult game on Wednesday,” said midfielder Sergio Busquets. “It has been our goal all season to win the Supporters’ Shield and then the playoffs. It’s a different format than what we were used to in Europe, but here in the United States it’s like this, so we must adapt.”

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino added: “If this were a 34-game season and the team that gets the most points wins, that would be fabulous. We see clearly that we can be the best team in the regular season. But the truth is, we would all feel very empty if we don’t battle for the championship, which is what we want most.”

It will not be easy beating the Crew. Martino has said all year that he considers Columbus the best, most consistent team in the league and that Crew coach Wilfried Nancy would have his vote for Coach of the Year.

The Crew has conceded the fewest goals in MLS (33) and is the most disciplined team in the league with an MLS-low 38 yellow cards. Miami, by contrast, has allowed 45 goals and is tied for third-most yellows with 86. Inter Miami center back Tomas Aviles is suspended for the game due to yellow card accumulation.

Columbus has lost just one of its last seven league games, won the Leagues Cup and almost won the Campeones Cup, falling on penalties to Club America. The Crew already broke Inter Miami’s heart this year, scoring three goals in the final 23 minutes to rally for a 3-2 victory in their most recent meeting during the Leagues Cup, a game Messi missed due to injury.

Messi did not play against the Crew last season as both games were before he joined Inter Miami last summer, and he was gone for Copa America when Miami beat the Crew in June this year.

The Argentine star returned from his ankle injury on September 14 against Philadelphia Union, scored twice and led Miami to a 3-1 win. He also scored the equalizer in the 1-1 tie at home to Charlotte over the weekend. In the four games since his return, he has three goals and three assists, and he has 15 goals and 15 assists in 16 games this season.

Although Miami is winless in the past three games with Messi, having to settle for three ties, his impact on the team is impossible to describe.

“Messi’s Messi,” Nancy said. “I have massive respect for him. He’s been part of my example when I try to teach certain things with my players because he’s a player that yes, obviously, he won many, many things, but also what I like about him is he plays with common sense.

“When there is a pass to make, he is going to pass the ball. When they see the moment to dribble, he’s going to do it. And for me, this is this is rare to see.”

Crew defender Rudy Camacho said: “It’s always nice to play against players like [Messi]. It forces you to stay focused because they don’t need a lot of chances. They are clinical. He doesn’t run too much, but when he touches the ball he makes the difference with an assist or a goal.”

Messi’s teammates have had to adjust to his return from a two-month layoff, and Martino changes tactics when Messi and Suarez are on the field together to compensate for their lack of defense. But Busquets said the adjustments are more than worth it.

“It’s true that with Leo and Luis there’s a change in system, and we have to adapt, but it’s an advantage to have him, and honestly, we need to find him more because we know what he’s capable of doing,” Busquets said.

Miami assistant coach Javi Morales broke into a huge grin when asked about adjusting to Messi’s return: “We are all very happy having the best player in the world on our team. We won’t have any problem adapting.”

How to Watch: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew will kick off at 7:30 p.m. at Lower.com Field and will be televised on Apple TV and FS1.