Messi scored just moments before the end of the first half against Toronto FC.
Lionel Messi appears to make history every time he takes the field for Inter Miami CF, and Sunday’s match against Toronto FC was no exception.
In only his fourth MLS regular-season appearance, Messi netted a goal just before halftime, firing a left-footed half-volley past Toronto goalkeeper Sean Johnson to tie the game at 1–1 going into the break.
Messi had found the net earlier in the first half too, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review that ruled he had committed a foul in the buildup. Toronto FC looked stronger during the opening 45 minutes and held the lead for four minutes after former Italian international Federico Bernardeschi slipped a shot past Drake Callender.
Messi’s goal marks a historic milestone for the Herons, as he becomes the club’s all-time leader in goal contributions with 44, surpassing his former Argentina teammate Gonzalo Higuaín, who held the previous record with 43. Messi had matched Higuaín’s total during a 2–1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Matchday 6.
Messi’s goal against Toronto boosts his tally to 24 goals and 20 assists in just 29 MLS regular season matches, surpassing Higuaín’s record, which was achieved over 67 appearances.
The goal also marks a significant personal milestone for Messi, as Toronto FC had previously been one of only two teams he had faced multiple times without scoring.
Higuaín played for Inter Miami from 2020 to 2022, leading the team in goals with 12 in 2021 and 16 in 2022, and played a key role in helping the Herons secure their first-ever MLS Cup playoff berth in 2022.
Despite the significance of the Champions Cup, head coach Javier Mascherano chose to start all three of his star players—Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba—against Toronto FC.
