Columbus Crew sign former Barcelona teammate of Lionel Messi

Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes joins MLS club on multi-year deal

Mar. 1, 2026 at 9:07pm

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The Columbus Crew have acquired free agent midfielder Andre Gomes, who most recently played for Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille. Gomes, a former teammate of Lionel Messi at Barcelona, has signed a contract through June 2027 with a club option for the 2027-2028 MLS season.

Why it matters

Gomes' move to MLS gives him a chance to relaunch his career after struggling for playing time in recent seasons. The matchup between Gomes' Columbus Crew and Messi's Inter Miami will be a highly anticipated reunion between the former Barcelona teammates.

The details

Andre Gomes, who has also played for Benfica, Valencia, Everton, and Portugal's national team, will occupy an international roster spot for the Crew pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa. Gomes played just seven minutes across two Ligue 1 matches for Lille this season, leading to his departure from the French club.

  • Gomes signed a contract through June 2027 with a club option for the 2027-2028 MLS season.
  • The first matchup of the season between Gomes' Columbus Crew and Messi's Inter Miami is set for August 1, 2026 at Miami Freedom Park.

The players

Andre Gomes

A Portuguese midfielder who has played for Barcelona, Everton, and Lille, among other clubs, and has also represented Portugal's national team.

Lionel Messi

An Argentine soccer superstar who joined Inter Miami in 2023 after playing for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

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What’s next

The first matchup of the season between Gomes' Columbus Crew and Messi's Inter Miami is set for August 1, 2026 at Miami Freedom Park.

The takeaway

Gomes' move to MLS gives him a chance to revive his career after struggling for playing time in recent seasons, and the matchup between Gomes and his former Barcelona teammate Messi will be a highly anticipated reunion in the Eastern Conference.