Lionel Messi milestone counts for little as Inter Miami crisis deepens in Toronto defeat
Lionel Messi continued to produce individually, but Inter Miami’s latest defeat to Toronto exposed a team whose worrying defensive and collective problems are becoming impossible to ignore.
Lionel Messi reached another personal landmark, but the achievement offered little consolation as Inter Miami’s alarming slump continued with a 2-1 home defeat to Toronto FC on Saturday night.
The setback leaves Miami without a win in their last five matches across all competitions, with four defeats during that run, piling pressure on a side that began the campaign with much greater expectations.
Toronto struck twice in three second-half minutes through Josh Sargent and Derrick Etienne Jr., exposing the defensive weaknesses that have increasingly become a problem for Javier Mascherano’s team.
Messi pulled one back late after Rodrigo De Paul’s pass, but his 14th MLS goal of the season could not inspire a comeback.
The defeat is particularly concerning because Miami dominated possession for long spells but lacked the cutting edge required to turn control into goals.
Their defensive problems have also become increasingly difficult to ignore, while the team’s dependence on Messi for decisive moments remains evident.
Lionel Messi had only recently scored and assisted in the 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union, ending a three-match losing streak, but that result has now been followed by another defeat.
Miami’s latest setback also comes despite the presence of a star-studded squad, leaving Mascherano with little room for excuses as the club attempts to regain momentum and protect its position near the top of the Eastern Conference.
The immediate concern is no longer Messi’s individual production — it is whether Inter Miami can rediscover the collective balance that made them one of MLS’ strongest sides.
For all of Messi’s brilliance, another milestone cannot disguise a team struggling badly for results.
