Lionel Messi Inspires Inter Miami Victory Over Toronto FC in Thrilling Encounter at Revamped BMO Field

Lionel Messi delivered another masterclass as Inter Miami CF defeated Toronto FC 4-2 in an entertaining Major League Soccer clash at a newly expanded BMO Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Argentine superstar scored once and provided two assists in a commanding display that helped Miami continue their strong MLS campaign, while frustration boiled over for Toronto head coach Robin Fraser, who criticised several refereeing decisions following the defeat.

Fraser Furious Over Refereeing Decisions

Fraser expressed anger over two major incidents involving referee Victor Rivas during the second half of the heated contest.

The first controversial moment came when Toronto defender Raheem Edwards appeared to be fouled in the build-up to Miami’s second goal. While Edwards remained injured on the pitch, Inter Miami continued the attack and eventually scored.

A second disputed incident arrived deep into stoppage time when Toronto forward Derrick Etienne Jr. appeared to be brought down inside the penalty area, only for play to continue without a spot-kick being awarded.

“I feel really disappointed with those decisions,” Fraser said after the match. “Raheem was clearly fouled and the referee allowed play to continue. Then the injured player ends up keeping them onside for the goal.

“We also made mistakes ourselves, especially in transition, but those decisions are extremely difficult to accept.”

When asked whether Miami’s high-profile status influenced the officiating, Fraser insisted the laws of the game should apply equally regardless of the players involved.

“The rules are the rules,” he added. “I don’t know if officials are reluctant to upset superstar players, but decisions should be made fairly.”

Messi Steals the Show

Messi once again proved the difference for Miami, electrifying the record crowd at BMO Field with moments of trademark brilliance.

The eight-time FIFA Player of the Year played a central role throughout the encounter, combining effectively with longtime teammate Luis Suárez and dictating much of Miami’s attacking play.

Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 44th minute through Rodrigo De Paul, who reacted quickest after his own free-kick rebounded off the Toronto wall before firing into the net from outside the area.

Toronto nearly equalised before half-time, but Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair produced an impressive diving save to deny Daniel Sallói.

Miami Pull Away in Second Half

Messi’s influence became even more decisive after the interval.

In the 56th minute, the Argentine playmaker produced a clever pass into the area for Suárez, who finished calmly to double Miami’s advantage while Edwards remained injured on the pitch, sparking frustration among the home supporters.

Toronto attempted to respond, with Zane Monlouis forcing another save from St. Clair, but Miami continued to punish the hosts on the counterattack.

Sergio Reguilón added a third goal in the 73rd minute after another assist from Messi before the Argentine star scored himself two minutes later, calmly finishing from close range following a pass from De Paul.

Messi nearly added a second late on, only for Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran to make an excellent save.

Late Fightback from Toronto

Despite the deficit, Toronto continued to battle until the final whistle.

Substitute Emilio Aristizábal gave the home supporters something to celebrate with two late goals, one from a powerful right-footed strike and another via a header.

However, the comeback arrived too late to deny Miami all three points.

Record Crowd at Expanded BMO Field

The match also marked the first use of the temporary seating installed at BMO Field ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

A record crowd of 44,828 spectators filled the stadium to witness Messi’s latest MLS appearance, although the majority of Toronto supporters left disappointed following another home defeat.

The result extended Toronto FC’s winless run at home in league matches to six games.

Inter Miami improved their MLS record to 6-2-4 with the victory, while Toronto dropped to 3-4-5.

Fraser nevertheless praised parts of his side’s performance, particularly during the opening half.

“Our first-half display was excellent,” he said. “The biggest issue was our decision-making in transition moments, where we had opportunities to really hurt them.”

Toronto continue to struggle with injuries to several key players, including Djordje Mihailovic, Josh Sargent, Richie Laryea and Matheus Pereira.

Saturday’s fixture also marked the end of an extended home stretch for Toronto, with their next match at BMO Field scheduled against New England Revolution on 15 August following the World Cup break.