Inter Miami 2-2 Colorado Rapids: Lionel Messi dazzles on his return from injury and scores a landmark goal in an emotional comeback… but the hosts must settle for a point after Cole Bassett’s late equalizer

Lionel Messi hadn’t even left his seat when the Inter Miami fans behind their team’s substitutes’ bench began to go wild.

All it took was for his burly bodyguard to start patrolling the sidelines for thousands of fans to know what was about to happen. That’s how obsessed they’ve become with their hero.

A few seconds later, he was there. Messi – who had not played since March 13 due to injury – greeted the crowd like a king greeting his people.

Messi stood and watched the Colorado Rapids take the lead while he warmed up. Rafael Navarro took a shot from the penalty spot, then fired a figurative weapon in the direction of the World Cup winner while celebrating.

But the Brazilian quickly looked stupid. Messi was brought on by Tata Martino at half-time and 15 minutes later Inter Miami led 2-1. The Argentinian equalized – a sublime first time – and had a helping hand in the second. He is back.

Messi needed just 12 minutes to equalize for Inter Miami against Colorado Rapids

Messi had not played since March 13 but produced a superb finish from the edge of the box.

Leo Afonso scored his first goal for Inter Miami’s first team to put them in the lead moments later.

Colorado Rapids celebrate late equalizer after clinical 87th-minute breakaway

But while Messi can transform things at one end of the pitch, he cannot provide a solution to Miami’s defensive deficiencies.

In the 87th minute, the Rapids threw a punch on the break that silenced the home fans. Cole Bassett’s fine finish into the far corner stole a point just when Messi thought he had won all three.

Bigger challenges loom on the horizon for Inter Miami, namely the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final second leg against Monterrey in midweek.

Martino also managed to rest Luis Suarez and brought on Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba in the second half. Resting those tired legs is a necessity as the games continue to pile up.

The absence of Inter Miami’s four stars was glaring in a first half which saw them lack control and composure.

They barely had a kick and when they did, they couldn’t keep the ball as the Rapids surrounded them.

Miami was also guilty of weak defending, particularly when Navarro bulldozed his way through tackle after tackle inside the box before his cross was returned for a corner.

Miami escaped another scare moments later when Rapids winger Kevin Cabral looked like he might have finished on goal.

Referee Ted Unkel, however, somehow missed an obvious foul on Cabral as he ran through this, had it been given it would have left Miami defender David Ruiz at risk of an early bath.

Julian Gressel had Miami’s first effort, but his shot went straight down the throat of former Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen. Minutes later, Tomas Aviles should have given the hosts the lead, but he clipped his shot over the crossbar.

Colorado Rapids forward Rafael Navarro opened the scoring with a merciless penalty

He fired a figurative weapon towards Messi as the Argentine warmed up on the sidelines.

Miami was largely limited to counter-attacks and imposing winger Shanyder Borgelin was played on the right. He tried to break into the box with Leonardo Campana, but was easily dispossessed when the attack broke down.

Then Messi stood up and ran down the sideline, drawing cheers so loud it was as if Miami had taken the lead.

Whether he did it on purpose or not, Messi teased the home fans by taking off his bib and then turning it around and putting it back on.

A few meters from where Messi was warming up, teammate Ryan Sailor awkwardly lunched into Cabral and took out the tricky winger. It was an obvious penalty just before half-time and Navarro knocked it away mercilessly.

Despite being a goal ahead, the atmosphere completely changed when Messi was introduced at the break. The hope of a comeback filled the stands and spread onto the field.

He brought calm and control to a performance that had been erratic. They were better with the ball, kept it for long periods and started to lure the Rapids defense into places they didn’t want to go.

Then came Messi’s goal – a finish we’ve seen from him countless times but whose execution still remains almost inexplicable.

Franco Negri was released on the left and played a pass across the edge of the box. Messi had already moved away from his defender and, for the first time, curled the ball off the post.

Inter Miami were transformed when Messi came on and he caused the Rapids defensive problems.

A woman ran onto the pitch to take a selfie with Messi before security quickly intervened.

Three minutes later, Miami led. Somehow, Messi found himself in acres of space in the middle of the field. He took the ball and played into an overlapping Ruiz who was attacking down the right.

As with the first goal, the full-back made a pass in front of goal and there was Leo Afonso, who scored his first goal for Miami’s first team.

The introductions of Busquets and Alba have made things even worse for the Rapids, whose coach Chris Armas – formerly of Manchester United – is probably still wondering how his team folded so easily.

Other opportunities presented themselves for Miami. Messi weaved between defenders before unleashing a fierce shot at goal. He sees a free kick go narrowly over the crossbar.

But then came the gut punch. The Rapids – rightly so – broke quickly and Bassett was on the receiving end of a perfectly weighted ball. He fired back into the goal in the corner to snatch a point.

Despite an army of pitchside security guards, two fans entered the pitch in the final minutes in separate incidents. One took a selfie with Messi, the other was wiped out so quickly he barely had time to take out his phone.

While Messi’s return was cause for celebration for Miami, it proved to be another costly night for Martino due to their injury problems – returning to their seven-match pre-season world tour, things got worse.

They were already without seven players on Saturday, but also lost Leo Campana late in the first half with what appeared to be a hamstring problem and Afonso minutes after his second-half goal.

They are in the middle of a grueling stretch of five matches in 15 days.