Inter Miami Secures Victory Over Toronto FC as Lionel Messi Makes Impactful Appearance

In a closely contested Major League Soccer (MLS) match at BMO Field, Inter Miami secured a 1-0 victory over Toronto FC, thanks to a last-minute strike by Ecuadorian forward Leo Campana. The game on Saturday afternoon featured cameo appearances from renowned footballer Lionel Messi, drawing significant attention from fans.

Messi, who started on the bench, entered the pitch in the 61st minute, receiving a warm ovation from the crowd, eager to see the Argentine star play. Inter Miami’s coach, Tata Martino, opted to rest some of the team’s star players, including Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and goalkeeper Drake Callender, after the team clinched the MLS Supporters’ Shield earlier in the week.

Campana’s decisive goal came in stoppage time, controlling a cross from Suarez before expertly turning and shooting past Toronto FC’s goalkeeper, Sean Johnson, marking his eighth goal of the season. This late winner keeps Inter Miami on track to potentially surpass the MLS single-season points record, set by the New England Revolution in 2021.

Toronto FC entered the match seeking a crucial win to maintain their playoff hopes. Positioned in ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, Toronto needed a victory and favorable results from other games throughout the day. Despite outshooting Miami with 15 attempts to 4, the home team failed to convert their chances into goals, ultimately leaving their postseason aspirations in jeopardy.

The match also featured moments of tension and drama. In the 79th minute, Messi was fouled by Toronto defender Sigurd Rosted, who received a yellow card for the challenge. Later, the game was briefly paused when a young fan invaded the pitch to take a photograph with Messi, highlighting the footballer’s widespread popularity.

With this victory, Inter Miami now accumulates 71 points and will face the New England Revolution on October 19 in their final game of the regular season. Meanwhile, Toronto’s playoff chances dwindle, awaiting the outcomes of matches involving Philadelphia and D.C. United.