Soccer fans around the world eagerly await Lionel Messi ’s decision on playing in the 2026 World Cup. The wait could continue until the end of this year. Messi, the Argentine World Cup champion and Inter Miami star, said he thinks about playing in the next World Cup but will first consider his health before reaching a final decision.

Major League Soccer comes to Cleveland this weekend as the Columbus Crew take on Inter Miami CF at Huntington Bank Field. Why it matters: For local soccer fans, Saturday's match is a chance to see Miami's Lionel Messi in person.

When the final whistle blew in Qatar, Lionel Messi fell to his knees in a state of catharsis. It took a penalty shootout against France, but he had finally led Argentina to a FIFA World Cup title, one of the few trophies he’d not won through his career.