Toronto FC drew 1-1 with Inter Miami CF at Chase Stadium during MLS “Sunday Night Soccer“, but Lionel Messi made history in the process.
The two Eastern Conference rivals traded goals in first-half stoppage time, the only two of the match.
Messi scores 44th goal in Miami
Toronto attacked first through Federico Bernardeschi. The Italy international completed an improvised run through the Herons defence, showing agility and skill before beating Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender with a powerful shot.
Messi’s response came three minutes later. It was brute force rather than skill, and the Argentine captain celebrated accordingly. The key to the goal was not how he scored it, but what it meant for history.
The goal was Messi’s third in the MLS season, along with two assists in just four games for Inter Miami so far this season. He has scored in three consecutive league games, despite dealing with a persistent groin injury.
In summary, the goal against Toronto represented the 44th goal for Messi (24 goals plus 20 assists) since his arrival at Inter Miami in July 2023.
MLS made Messi’s record official
The Major League Soccer’s Official Communications Department made the following announcement on social media during the match:
“With his first-half goal against Toronto FC, Lionel Messi of @InterMiamiCF (44 goal contributions in 29 games) surpassed Gonzalo Higuain as the club’s all-time leading scorer, achieving the feat in 38 fewer games.”
This was another achievement in Messi’s unparalleled soccer career. The world champion also led Inter Miami to its first major trophy in 2023, and became the club’s all-time leading scorer during the 2024 season.
While it was a disappointing result in front of the home fans in Fort Lauderdale, Messi’s goal was enough to keep the Herons unbeaten in the league during their first six games (four wins, two draws).
Inter Miami will play at home again in their next match, when in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals they host LAFC next Wednesday, April 9. LAFC has a 1-0 aggregate lead after the first leg in Los Angeles.
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