Messi
Reuters
With a brilliant performance from Lionel Messi, who scored his ninth MLS goal of the season and provided two assists, Inter Miami secured their sixth away victory in 2026 by defeating Toronto FC 2-4 on Saturday.
Messi, 38, notched his 86th goal in 101 appearances for the South Florida side, playing the full 90 minutes and helping the Herons close in on Nashville SC, the Eastern Conference leaders. The pink-club currently sits second with 22 points from 12 matches, just one point behind the leaders, who have two games in hand.
“The team showed a strong football presence,” said Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos in a press conference. “I think the result falls short in terms of situations created. Our team has a significant presence anywhere we play.”
With eleven players sidelined due to injury at BMO Field in Toronto, the home side faced a major challenge, while Miami looked to bounce back from a 4-3 defeat to Orlando City in their previous match.
Controlling possession and tempo, everything was set for another dazzling display from Messi, who was involved in three of Inter’s four goals. But it was his compatriot Rodrigo de Paul (43′) who opened the scoring with a clever chipped first-time finish after a free kick. In the 56th minute, Messi set up Uruguayan Luis Suárez, who beat goalkeeper Luka Gavran in a one-on-one. Suárez, 39, who this week stated his availability for Uruguay’s World Cup squad, reached 45 goals in 96 appearances for Inter.
In the 73rd minute, the Argentine star again provided the assist, this time for Spanish full-back Sergio Reguilón, who scored his first goal in North American soccer. Two minutes later, from a De Paul pass, Messi slotted a cross-shot inside the box to make it 4-0 and put the game beyond reach for Robin Fraser’s side.
The final minutes saw Inter Miami under pressure after two goals from Colombian Emilio Aristizábal, son of former striker Víctor Hugo Aristizábal, which brightened the scoreline for the hosts. Toronto FC remain ninth in the Eastern Conference with 14 points.
“No concern at all,” Hoyos said when asked about the late goals. “There are positive aspects. This is football, and it shows itself in different ways. We appreciate the performance on a difficult pitch.”
**Galaxy Wins with Brazilian Goals**
Also on Saturday, Brazilian Gabriel Pec scored twice to give LA Galaxy a 2-1 win over Gerardo Martino’s Atlanta United. Jay Fortune had opened the scoring for Atlanta in the 69th minute, but two goals from Pec in the 74th and 75th minutes turned the result around. Pec, 25, reached three goals in 11 matches this season and helped Galaxy climb to eighth in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, New York Red Bulls beat Chicago Fire 3-1, earning their fourth win of the season. The New York side opened the scoring through Mexican Jonathan Ruvalcaba, who scored his fourth goal in his first MLS season.
The 12th round of the league continues on Sunday with three matches, including a notable visit by Austin FC to Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, to face Minnesota United, featuring Colombian James Rodríguez.