Lionel Messi Creates Magic with Iconic Volley, But Inter Miami Unable to Secure Victory
Lionel Messi becomes Inter Miami’s all-time leader in goal contributions (44) in MLS. The 8-time Ballon d’Or winner needed only 29 matches to achieve the feat.
Lionel Messi continues to break records at 37 as he netted a goal in Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw against Toronto FC in Major League Soccer on Sunday. Messi put his name on the scoresheet in the extra time after 45 minutes with a stunning volley to level the game for Inter Miami, but failed to inspire them to win as the match ended in a 1-1 draw
He almost scored a goal in the 39th minute, but the VAR review ruled that Messi had fouled French defender Nickson Gomis as he created room for the shot, and the effort was ruled out.
However, his 45+5th-minute strike helped Messi become Inter Miami’s all-time leader in goal contributions (44) in MLS. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner needed only 29 matches to surpass his former Argentina teammate Gonzalo Higuaín’s tally.
Earlier, Toronto’s Federico Bernardeschi opened the scoring in the game with the Italian forward twisting and turning inside the box and then poking the ball past Miami keeper Drake Callender.
But the lead did not last long. Messi, found by Telasco Segovia, was given too much room on the edge of the box, and his pinpoint low drive gave Toronto keeper Sean Johnson no chance.
The great Argentinian played the full match and tried to put his team at the top in the second half, but he didn’t get much support from the other players. Messi created most of the chances by himself while being crowded out by Toronto defenders.
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano said his team would be ready for that challenge despite his frustrations with Sunday’s performance.
“In the first half, we disconnected from the game for 10-15 minutes, and they scored. Then we started again, and in the second half, we tried to do something with the substitutes.
“It was a difficult game, people thought that maybe Toronto is not in a good position on the table, but they have good quality up front, and they played well. We need to think about Wednesday,” he said. Lionel Messi has officially become Inter Miami’s all-time leader in goal contributions, reaching a remarkable total of 44 in just 29 matches. This achievement came during a recent match against Toronto FC, where Messi scored a stunning goal in extra time to equalize in a 1-1 draw.
In the match, Messi almost found the net earlier, but a VAR review ruled out his potential goal in the 39th minute due to a foul on Toronto’s French defender, Nickson Gomis, while he was creating space for his shot. However, in the 45+5th minute, he made no mistake, finishing expertly after being set up by Telasco Segovia, leaving Toronto’s goalkeeper Sean Johnson with no chance.
Earlier, Federico Bernardeschi had put Toronto ahead, demonstrating his skill with some fancy footwork before poking the ball past Miami’s keeper, Drake Callender. Despite the setback, Messi’s goal helped his team level the score, but they ultimately couldn’t find a winner.
Throughout the match, Messi played the full 90 minutes and was consistently at the center of the action. Unfortunately, he found it challenging to connect with his teammates, often facing multiple Toronto defenders on his own.
Inter Miami’s manager, Javier Mascherano, expressed his frustrations after the game. He noted that there was a period in the first half where the team lost focus, allowing Toronto to score. He acknowledged the quality of the opposing squad despite their position in the league and emphasized that they need to regroup and prepare for their next match.
