Messi Takes the Spotlight, But Inter Miami Drop 2 Points
Lionel Messi shined both on and off the pitch, yet Inter Miami still dropped 2 points against Toronto FC in the 2025 MLS.
Messi’s arrival made the entire city of Toronto feel like it had come to a halt—just like a year ago when locals poured into the streets to support the Argentine superstar.
Around BMO Field, the stands were filled with Argentina, Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami jerseys—all bearing the legendary No. 10. Fans were willing to pay between $250 and $350 just to see their idol live in Canada.
Canadian fans welcoming Messi. Photo: IMFC
Right from kickoff, Inter Miami dominated both on the field and in the stands. Every time Messi touched the ball, the crowd erupted in cheers, chanting his name.
Though some Toronto FC supporters tried to drown out the visiting fans with chants of “TFC, TFC,” it wasn’t long before the stadium echoed with “Messi, Messi.”
In the 11th minute, Sean Johnson made his first save, stopping Baltasar Rodriguez’s shot inside the box.
The pressure from Inter Miami kept mounting. By the 29th minute, Toronto’s keeper once again denied Messi with a brilliant save from a close-range strike near the penalty spot.
It wasn’t until the 35th minute that the home side created their first chance, when Alonso Coello’s angled shot from the edge of the box forced Oscar Ustari into a diving save.
In the 44th minute, Messi was denied yet again by Sean Johnson, who reacted quickly to stop a low shot. The Toronto keeper showed his brilliance with both hands and feet.
Just when it seemed the first half would end goalless, Inter Miami broke the deadlock in added time: Messi spread the ball from midfield to the left wing, Jordi Alba raced forward and crossed for Tadeo Allende, who rose high to head home from close range.
After the break, Toronto FC unexpectedly equalized. In a chaotic sequence, Inter Miami’s defense fell asleep, allowing Djorde Mihailovic to slot the ball in from six yards out.
The stadium erupted—some Messi-shirted fans even celebrated the equalizer.
The 1-1 scoreline made the game more intense, but Inter Miami still looked dominant. Sean Johnson, however, continued to pull off stunning saves to keep his team alive.
In the end, the match finished 1-1. Inter Miami dropped 2 valuable points against one of the Eastern Conference’s bottom-ranked sides.