Lionel Messi braces as Inter Miami returns to winning ways in Toronto

Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suarez, Sergio Reguilon and Lionel Messi each scored to lead visiting Inter Miami to a 4-2 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday.

Messi also had two assists as Miami ensured they would not repeat last week’s stunning 4-3 home defeat to Orlando City when they surrendered a 3-0 lead.

Messi’s attacking performance on the day made him the fastest Major League Soccer (MLS) player to reach 100 goals.

Emilio Aristizabal scored a brace for Toronto.

The Herons took a 1-0 lead when De Paul’s free-kick from 25 yards in the 44th minute deflected off the wall and his one-time right-foot shot hit the post and went in.

Suarez gave Miami a 2-0 lead when he finished Messi’s pass with his left foot in the 56th minute. The Herons took advantage of the space created when Toronto forward Raheem Edwards remained on the field.

In the 73rd minute, Miami was leading 3–0 when Messi returned a pass to Reguilon, who scored his first MLS goal.

Miami made it 4-0 when De Paul made contact with Messi in the center of the penalty area in the 75th minute.

Aristizabal cut Miami’s lead to 4-1 in the 82nd minute. Toronto trailed 4-2 after Aristizabal’s header off a Kobe Franklin pass in the 90th minute.

Toronto had chances early in the game. Alonso Coello’s free kick from outside the penalty area in the eighth minute went through the Miami wall, but Dayne St. Clair made the save.

Over the next few minutes, Toronto continued to apply pressure as Malik Henry, Markus Cimermancic and Deandre Kerr sent shots wide of the target.

Miami’s attack began to build late in the first half when Messi’s shot fizzled past the near post in the 38th minute.

Moments later, St. Clair made a diving save on Daniel Salloi’s shot to preserve Miami’s 1-0 lead at halftime.

In the 47th minute, Luis ‌Suarez forced a turnover in midfield, giving Messi a two-on-one run. Messi drew in both defenders and passed to Suarez on the wing, whose shot from inside the penalty area was off target.

Published on May 10, 2026