May 9, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Inter Miami CF midfielder Lionel Messi (10) battles for possession with Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osorio (21) during the first half at BMO Field. (Photo by Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)
Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suarez, Sergio Reguilon, and Lionel Messi each found the net, helping visiting Inter Miami secure a 4-2 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday. Messi also contributed two assists as Miami (6-2-4, 22 points) avoided a repeat of last week’s shocking 4-3 home loss to Orlando City, where they squandered a three-goal advantage. Emilio Aristizabal scored twice for Toronto (3-4-5, 14 points).
Miami took a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute when De Paul’s free kick from 25 yards deflected off the wall, and his first-time right-footed shot struck the post before crossing the line. Suarez doubled the lead in the 56th minute, finishing a Messi pass with his left foot after capitalizing on space created when Toronto forward Raheem Edwards remained down on the pitch.
In the 73rd minute, Miami extended the advantage to 3-0 as Messi returned a pass to Reguilon, who scored his first MLS goal. The Herons made it 4-0 just two minutes later when De Paul connected with Messi in the middle of the box, and Messi slotted home. Aristizabal pulled one back for Toronto in the 82nd minute, then added another in the 90th minute with a header from a Kobe Franklin cross, making it 4-2.
Early on, Toronto created chances but couldn’t convert. Alonso Coello’s free kick from outside the box in the eighth minute slipped through Miami’s wall, but goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made the save. In the following minutes, Malik Henry, Markus Cimermancic, and Deandre Kerr all sent shots wide of the target.
Miami’s attack began to build late in the first half, with a Messi shot whizzing just past the near post in the 38th minute. Moments later, St. Clair made a diving punch save from a Daniel Salloi shot to preserve the 1-0 lead at halftime. In the 47th minute, Luis Suarez forced a turnover in midfield, setting up a 2-on-1 break for Messi, who drew two defenders and slipped a pass to Suarez on the wing, but his shot from inside the box went off target.
