The Ultimate Litmus Test: Can a Revived Toronto FC Stun the Messi Machine?
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After climbing out of a winless abyss, the Reds face a daunting road trip to Miami to prove their resurgence is more than a flash in the pan.
Opinion: For months, Toronto FC existed in a state of sporting hibernation. A brutal 12-match winless streak left the club drifting, but as Sportsnet first reported, the Reds have finally found their pulse.
Signs of life have emerged in the most dramatic fashion. Last weekend, TFC secured their first victory since April by defeating the New England Revolution. They followed that up on Wednesday with a gritty performance against Charlotte FC, where they clawed back from a two-goal deficit in the second half to secure a draw despite playing with only 10 men. These results have pushed Toronto to 11th place in the Eastern Conference, leaving them just three points and two spots shy of the playoff line with 14 games remaining.
However, the true test of this revival arrives Saturday night. Toronto travels to Nu Stadium to face the defending MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami CF, and the gravitational force of Lionel Messi.
Messi is currently operating at an MVP level in 2026, recording nine assists and 13 goals through 17 matches, according to Sportsnet. He has historically viewed Toronto as a favorite target; since joining the league in 2023, he has tallied three goals and two assists in five games against the Reds. This includes a dominant performance in May at BMO Field, where Messi scored once and assisted twice in a 4-2 Miami victory.
Inside the TFC camp, there is a profound respect for the Argentinian's genius. Coach Robin Fraser described Messi as the greatest to ever play the game, citing an unparalleled ability to make decisions and execute at top speed while keeping the ball so close that defenders cannot find a moment to lunge. Midfielder Djordje Mihailovic echoed this sentiment, noting that Messi makes professional soccer look like he is "playing in a park."
But admiration is not the same as surrender. TFC winger Dániel Sallói views the spectacle of a full stadium and world-class opposition as the exact reason players enter the sport, noting that this is the moment to make up for lost points.
Midfielder Markus Cimermancic, who netted his first career goal during the midweek draw against Charlotte, believes the blueprint for an upset exists. Reflecting on the May matchup, Cimermancic told Sportsnet that he missed transition opportunities that could have shifted the score. He maintains that while defending the world's best is a requirement, TFC can win if they limit Miami's chances and convert their own.
With Inter Miami currently sitting 22 places and 18 points above Toronto in the overall league table, the gap in quality is wide. But for a team that has forgotten how to lose, staring down the hype machine in Miami is the only way to prove that Toronto FC is truly back.