Lionel Messi scored again on Saturday night but it wasn’t enough to save Inter Miami from yet another defeat.
The defending MLS Cup champions suffered a 2-1 home loss to Toronto FC, their fourth loss in five games.
Leo Messi scores career goal 9️⃣2️⃣3️⃣, but it’s not enough for Inter Miami, who lose to Toronto
Inter Miami’s last 5 games:
❌ 1-2 Toronto
2-2 Philadelphia Union
❌ 1-2 Nashville
❌ 1-2 Club León
❌ 0-4… pic.twitter.com/v6ajvrkPQG— 433 (@433) August 23, 2026
According to ESPN, Miami’s MLS winless streak now stands at nearly a month
Toronto FC took over in the second half when Miami failed to clear the ball and Josh Sargent finished sharply to open the scoring in the 59th minute.
Only three minutes later Derrick Etienne Jr. made it 2-0. Messi scored in the 82nd minute for his 14th goal of the season and 64th in his Inter Miami career.
Miami now has 2 draws and 2 losses in the league this August.
A Few Tough Weeks
Miami had been thrashed 4-1 by Nashville SC a week earlier and Messi missed a penalty for the third successive time
Miami was also eliminated early in the Leagues Cup after back-to-back losses. A 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union, in which Messi also scored
Miami has been poor in defense. Over this stretch, the team has conceded 10 goals during that period
Standings Still Favor Miami
Despite the poor run, Inter Miami sit second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 11 wins, 4 draws and 6 losses. But Nashville now has a 10-point cushion over Miami, sitting on top of the East and the Supporters’ Shield race
The Coach Speaks Out
“Right now, we’re facing a struggle with results that we didn’t have before,” Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos said. “That struggle affects our mindset, and that’s why things sometimes don’t go our way.
To top it all off, MLS fined both Messi and defender Ian Fray on Friday, as Yankee Scores ealier reported. The league cited separate incidents in the Philadelphia game where the two made contact with opponents in the head and neck area
Inter Miami will try to get back on track at home against CF Montreal on Saturday. With the playoffs approaching, Miami can’t afford to let this poor streak last much longer
