Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass performance on Saturday, scoring one goal and setting up two more as Inter Miami bounced back in style with a commanding 4-2 victory over Toronto FC in Major League Soccer action.
Coming off a disappointing 4-3 home loss to Orlando City in last week's Florida derby, Miami was determined to get back on track. And with Messi leading the charge, they did just that in emphatic fashion on Canadian soil.
The Argentine superstar—who is expected to lead his country's World Cup title defense in just over a month—was in vintage form, orchestrating Miami's attack with precision and flair. The win moved Inter Miami to within a single point of Eastern Conference leaders Nashville.
Miami broke the deadlock just before halftime when Messi's Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul unleashed a volley from the edge of the area after his own free kick rebounded off Toronto's defensive wall. The midfielder made no mistake with the second chance, rifling home to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The floodgates opened in the second half. On 56 minutes, Messi spotted former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez with a perfectly weighted first-time pass, and the Uruguayan calmly slotted home to double Miami's advantage. It was a moment of pure chemistry between two legends who have tormented defenses for over a decade together.
Messi turned provider again in the 73rd minute, setting up substitute Sergio Reguilon for his first-ever MLS goal—a milestone moment for the Spanish full-back. Just two minutes later, the maestro got his name on the scoresheet. De Paul surged down the right flank and delivered a low cross into the box, where Messi arrived to steer a clinical side-footed finish past Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran into the bottom corner.
Toronto mounted a late rally, with Colombian substitute Emilio Aristizabal scoring a brace in the 82nd and 90th minutes to make things interesting. But Miami held firm through 11 tense minutes of stoppage time to secure their sixth win of the season and remind everyone why they're a force to be reckoned with in MLS.