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Inter Miami returned to winning ways on Saturday, demolishing Toronto FC 4–2 before a record-breaking crowd at BMO Field. Lionel Messi was the standout performer for the Herons, contributing a goal and two assists, setting a new record as the quickest player to reach 100 goal contributions in MLS regular season history.
Saturday's result means the Herons have successfully recovered from last week's embarrassing collapse, when they squandered a 3–0 advantage against in-state rivals Orlando City and went on to lose 4–3.
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While Messi's outstanding display headlines the story, it was a collective team performance from the defending MLS Cup champions.
Rodrigo De Paul broke the deadlock just before the interval with a stunning second attempt, after his initial free-kick was blocked by Toronto's defensive wall. He connected brilliantly with the bouncing ball on a volley, guiding it inside the post and leaving Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran completely helpless.
Luis Suárez netted his third goal of the season in the 55th minute following a swift counter-attack involving De Paul and Messi, before the eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient registered his second assist of the afternoon on Sergio Reguilón's maiden MLS goal shortly after. Messi then got on the scoresheet himself in the 75th minute.
De Paul ➡️ Messi ➡️ Suárez
Luis Suárez makes it a 2-0 @InterMiamiCF lead. pic.twitter.com/O1Xn8QpjX1
Despite Miami's dominance, they couldn't avoid a late wobble, conceding twice to Toronto's Emilio Aristizábal.
Beyond the exciting goalscoring action, the game was also interrupted multiple times by pitch invasions, including a group of four late in the contest, following an earlier individual who rushed onto the field to get a photo with Messi. Pitch invaders targeting the global superstar are nothing new, but having more than five in a single match is truly remarkable.
It all unfolded before a venue record attendance, with 44,828 supporters filling the recently expanded stadium, which is set to host six matches at the upcoming World Cup. That figure stands as the highest ever for a soccer match at the ground, surpassing the previous venue record of 40,148 established at the NHL Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in 2017.
Below is Sports Illustrated's full match breakdown, complete with report card grades for every Inter Miami player who featured on the pitch.
Inter Miami Report Card vs. Toronto FC (4-3-3)
GK: Dayne St. Clair—C+: The Canadian shot-stopper was playing on familiar turf on his birthday and impressed with a sharp first-half stop on Daniel Sallói, finishing with three saves overall despite conceding twice.
RB: Facundo Mura—B+: Filling in at right back for the sidelined Ian Fray, Mura was a consistent attacking threat down the right flank throughout the contest, linking up well with Rodrigo De Paul.
CB: Gonzalo Luján—B: Brought in to replace Maxi Falcón and bolster the defensive unit, Luján performed solidly alongside Micael in a relatively composed display, a clear improvement over the error-prone performances seen across Falcón's nine previous starts.
CB: Micael—B-: The Brazilian center back recorded the most passes of any player in the match and was crucial in containing Toronto's attack for much of the game. However, being beaten for Emilio Aristizábal's header late on prevented him from earning a higher mark.
LB: Noah Allen—D: The Greek youth international has been one of Inter Miami's most dependable figures over the past three seasons and was largely solid in his work down the left side, registering three defensive contributions across 68 minutes.
RM: Rodrigo De Paul—A: De Paul's push to earn a spot in Argentina's World Cup squad has been compelling since the March international break, and his performance against Toronto FC was a highlight, beginning with his spectacular volley goal before teeing up Messi for another, a combination that will surely catch the attention of Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni.
CM: Yannick Bright—A+: Deployed in a more central midfield role in the 4-3-3 as De Paul moved to the right, Bright was a dominant physical presence while also creating room for both De Paul and Segovia in wider areas. His match-leading 13 defensive contributions highlighted his exceptional two-way ability.
LM: Telasco Segovia—C: In a match where Inter Miami controlled possession and generated numerous opportunities, Telasco Segovia struggled to make a meaningful impact, despite accumulating 49 touches over 79 minutes.
RW: Lionel Messi—A+: Appearing in his 101st match for Inter Miami, Messi delivered another memorable performance, scoring once and providing two assists while creating four chances and registering five shots. In doing so, he surpassed Toronto FC icon Sebastian Giovinco's record as the fastest player to reach 100 goal contributions in MLS regular season history, achieving the feat in just 64 appearances.
ST: Luis Suárez—A+: Luis Suárez may have lost a step in terms of mobility, but his clinical finishing remains as sharp as ever. Racking up 45 touches in 78 minutes, the Uruguayan consistently found himself in dangerous positions, scoring his third goal of the campaign to sit second in the club's scoring charts, just behind Messi.
LW: Germán Berterame—F: Germán Berterame is fighting to secure a place in Mexico's World Cup squad, and his glaring second-half miss in this match will do little to strengthen his case. The $15 million signing managed no shots and only 26 touches across 90 minutes.
SUB: Sergio Reguilón (68')—A: The Argentine wingback entered the game late and produced one of his finest MLS performances to date, netting in the 73rd minute while making a strong impact along the flank.
SUB: David Ayala (78')—F: A highly-touted winter acquisition from the Portland Timbers, Ayala had a difficult outing off the bench on Saturday, committing a costly error that allowed Toronto to find the net.
SUB: Preston Plambeck (78')—D: The 20-year-old academy graduate managed 15 touches but was largely anonymous as the Herons attempted to protect their lead, even as they conceded twice.
SUB: Dániel Pintér (78')—C: The 18-year-old Pintér continued to add to his minutes off the bench this season, completing four successful passes in the closing stages for the Herons.
Subs not used: Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Maxi Falcón, Alex Shaw, David Ruiz, Mateo Silvetti
One Thing We Can't Ignore
Saturday's fixture marked the first occasion in nine matches that the club left center back Maxi Falcón out of the starting lineup, dropping him following a run of poor showings and questionable decisions that had cost his team points at Nu Stadium.
While Toronto still managed to create openings and test the central defensive partnership of Gonzalo Luján and Micael, there were significantly fewer obvious positional mistakes compared to what had been seen with Falcón in the side.
The change reflected the development of new interim boss Guillermo Hoyos, who had made only two substitutions during last week's collapse against Orlando City. Rather than persisting with his usual setup, he adapted tactically to address a clear weakness, and it proved effective, underlining his qualities as a manager beyond simply being a coach with a prior connection to Lionel Messi from their shared time in FC Barcelona's academy.
What's Next For Inter Miami?
With the win secured, Inter Miami ended a brief two-match winless run that had followed a draw with the New England Revolution and a defeat to Orlando City. The squad now turns its attention to three remaining fixtures before the 2026 World Cup break, beginning with Wednesday's clash against FC Cincinnati, then two home matches against the Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union.