Messi’s 14th MLS Goal in Vain as Miami’s Winless Streak Persists
In an engaging match held on Saturday, Inter Miami faced off against Toronto FC, where they ultimately succumbed to a 2-1 defeat, marking their fifth consecutive game without a win. Despite a stellar performance by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, Miami’s offensive efforts fell short. The team entered the second half trailing 2-0, following goals scored by Toronto’s Josh Sargent in the 59th minute and Derrick Etienne Jr. just three minutes later.
In the 82nd minute, Messi struck back by netting his 14th goal of the 2026 Major League Soccer season, a moment made possible by a brilliant through ball delivered by his compatriot, Rodrigo De Paul. However, despite their late-game offensive push, Miami could not convert any further opportunities into goals.
With 14 goals, Messi sits at second place on the MLS scoring leaderboard, trailing Dallas’s Petar Musa, who has netted 16 goals as of Saturday. Miami’s recent form has included four losses and one draw across their last five contests, covering both MLS matches and the Leagues Cup, in which they experienced elimination during the group stages.
Following this match, Inter Miami found themselves holding on to second place in the Eastern Conference, but seven games behind the current leaders, Nashville SC, who also hold a game in hand. The pressure mounted further as Robert Lewandowski’s Chicago Fire squad closed the gap, coming within three points of Miami’s standings after a 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls on the same day.
In a positive turn for Orlando City, they secured their spot in the MLS Cup playoff positions following a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake. The win was largely credited to their French star Antoine Griezmann, who secured a brace in the second half, aiding Orlando in overcoming an earlier deficit established by Dominik Marczuk’s goal for Real Salt Lake in the 36th minute.
