Lionel Messi vs Toronto | Goal in Frustrating Defeat! 😤 | 22/08/2026

That making the run. Four games without a win in all competitions. Leo Messi and Luis Suarez in the site today. Toronto FC coming on the road. They'll try to find their moments, especially in transition. But if they do decide to make this a game that's a little bit more combative, can Miami show the emotional control? Toronto FC. Toronto, just one win in the last six. Looking for points. The Clyde Easton Conference into Miami. Big match. Big referee. Ismail Elfham is in the building. The man who refereed the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina. And what a performance he had in that game, Mo, as well. I mean, what a game it was. Central Miami have struggled in terms of defensive issues. They've had to rejig to start hitting form in the business end of this Major League Soccer season. That gap all of a sudden at the top end of the standings. Mo is widening. Nashville thinks he's an incredibly talented young man who is now finally getting fit. Completely fit. He's more comfortable within this team and understands his role and responsibilities. Nice touch. Rodrigo to Paul. On the turn, looking for Frey. Inability to keep clean sheets and limit the amount of chances that they give up. Even against Philly. There were so many moments where Philly had chances to go and get another goal and put that game away. On the night, couldn't get the job done. But that's still an area of focus. We know Eleo Messi's second isn't good enough. Frey. There is Messi. Tries that little round the corner pass for Rodrigo de Paul. Well defended by who's on his fourth MLS club. Messi just couldn't connect there with Luis Suarez. Seven goals on the road this year for him. Towards Messi. This is better. De Paul. Suarez making the run on that left. Veterani on central. Messi trying to time his run. Goes down. Ismael Alfa takes a look. Says play on. Suarez back for Messi. Veterani! That one takes a deflection. First real chance for Inter Miami. Messi at the heart of it. And Veterani not far away. But this is going to show you how quickly and efficient Miami can be in possession. Messi asking for the penalty here. Just coming together. Defender does a good job stepping in. Putting his body in between Messi and the ball. Get another look at it here. Corner kick. Swing and delivery. Falcón was throwing himself at that ball from Messi. But didn't get anywhere near it. It's a go there. Messi a little bit of space. Etienne Jr. electing not to go close. Messi. Rodrigo de Paul lofted cross towards that far post. And Etienne Jr. just lets that one run behind him. It's a little bit nervy there for a moment as he knew Messi was just over his shoulder. And the Toronto FC defender, they get caught gambling. Messi. Continuing his run. Might be a crossing chance here. Tries to pull it back to nobody in particular. It's actually going to work out. Messi opening up. Good strength from Kobe Franklin. This bundles Messi out of the way. Just on Inter, man. Particularly easily defended. Nobody really going out wide of Shalhoub when he was coming in as well. Rodrigo de Paul. Messi. Strong challenge from Richie Larre. And he's not happy. How free kick is given against the Canadian international. Firepower that can not necessarily match you. But they can compare. You look at Nashville. Nashville's got stars in their own right. They got dangerous players. Metorama goes down. Looked like contact there with Etienne Jr. Into Miami possession anyway. Messi. Allowed to turn. They dropped off him. That's the opening back up on his left. Back central. Nice little ball in behind for Moura. The sub. That one's deflected into the hands of... This is better. Messi. Moura out wide of him. Messi. Nice little entry pass. He was looking for the return and right-footed option. I mean, as much as we talked about what Mahalovic can bring to dead ball situations for Toronto. Messi. Trying to play this one in behind. Bertrami meets it. Casemiro. That's another factor in terms of why you sign a Casemiro. Such a good... I mean, none of note. Messi. Messi dropping a little bit deeper. Quiet. Leo Messi so far. Those are the moments you just saw Robin Fraser on the sideline there for Toronto FC. Those are the moments that he highlighted to us. I'm sure that's helping either side. Messi. On the turn. Messi. Trying to go for goal and that one blocked. I was just going to say, especially this last five, seven minutes spell going into the half. Moura. He and Rodrigo de Paul again going to battle. Normally we talk about which team is going to benefit from a halftime. Maybe the fans will. A half in which two sides have cancelled each other out. Issues in the final third. Right in front of the very eyes. But so far... To try to link up play. But then sometimes that second ball that should be putting him back into a dangerous position or service into the box for him. When the team does this, what do you think it should be? Because they're just not on enough consistent bases. The fans making themselves heard right now as Inter Miami in the famous pink. Flicking behind. Monlu, convincing with the clearance. Messi. A little flick back in behind. And just too much on it. I think Monlu's had a couple of defensive issues when he stepped out. Suarez. For Messi. We did see a first half change with Moura coming into the game for the injured Lujan. It's a front three that features Beto Rame who's back from injury. Looking to acquire Dan Jovovich as a striker. Not confirmed. That one taken off his foot by Sargent. Messi. They're on the turn. Lovely play. And he wins the free kick as well. For Suarez as Inter Miami look for a response. The frustration from Lionel Messi. And his side, his left-hand side especially. Richie Maria covering so much ground. But once you get that first goal, that's encouragement. Now you want to go and find that second. Now you want to go and find that third. Messi towards the near post. For the goal kick. And the pace on it. Now watch this in-tweaking ball. A little flick at the near post from Falcone. It's a pitch where teams hate coming here. Where teams know it's going to always be incredibly difficult. So far it's been a little bit too easy defensively. Segovia. Messi. Back in for Casemiro. And again off on the second pass. He's just come back. Suarez. Messi. Trying to try that one through and just couldn't connect. Some new energy to try to win back that midfield battle. That's kind of tilted in favor of Toronto FC in the way that they... Stoppage time. At the discretion of Ismail Elfat. Messi. Another giveaway. Another good read. Being able to string together some quality in the final third. Some frustration on that pass from De Paul, huh? He was looking for the run further forward. He didn't get it. The moments where they had runners in behind. The moments where they were forcing. There's a ball in behind. Messi! The big stars combine. Rodrigo De Paul with the pass in behind. Messi with the clinical finish. Into Miami. Reduce the deficit. 2-1. A little coy nod of approval from the manager. Guillermo Hoyos. And the play actually just takes the words out of my mouth. I was just getting ready to describe that Inter-Miami have not had that burden behind. And they finally have that moment offered to them. The timing of the ball. The run from Inter-Miami. From Leo Messi. Stays onside. And once again it's Heyman Luis who gets caught. Gets caught. Ball watching for just a split second. De Paul has no pressure on him. Falcón driving forward. And is that going to be a free kick? Referee says no. Play continues. Coelho still battling hard for it. Messi goes down. No free kick. Replicate itself. Kind of what we saw in that last goal from Toronto Oseas. Can they show a level of resiliency? It's another free kick again. And nothing doing. Ismael El Pat well positioned. And now the break is on again. Still time to knock the ball around to the back. They have to get it forward. And they generally look to Rodrigo De Paul. Messi. Messi trying to go in between two. Messi. Cross towards an air post. And it's deflected. Falcón at the edge of the box. Never looked like he wanted to hit that. Tickets for those at mlssoccer.com. Slash tickets for Toronto. Like because Messi might have other ideas. Messi. That one takes a deflection. And Gerrard was taking no chances. Smothers it. Keeps it in play. This time Delanoir goes out a little bit more central. Messi dropping deep. And it hasn't done this since they've had this spell of possession. Rodrigo De Paul. Now forces Toronto MLSC to have to find ways to still try to engage. And not just sit deep in their own end. Inside their own 18. Messi. Falcón. He has seen an awful lot of the ball. Don't know if that's a good thing. De Paul has just continued to be a driving force. Messi. Looking towards Bertrami. Takes it down. On the turn. Goes back for Messi. Allen. And that is going to be it. A bizarre finish. Noah Allen still having conversations. And his teammates telling him play that ball in. That is the end of the action. Messi got his goal. But it was too late and not enough.