TORONTO —
Lionel Messi came off the bench for Inter Miami on Saturday in Toronto, to participate in the penultimate match of the regular season with a team that has already won the MLS Supporters Shield.
The Argentine star was on the field when the only goal came, scored by Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana in the third minute of stoppage time of the second half, which gave the Garzas a 1-0 victory and placed them one victory away from establishing the record for points in an MLS season.
Messi, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, came on in the 61st minute, as did Spaniard Sergio Busquets, his teammate for years at Barcelona. Also left out of Inter Miami’s starting 11 on Saturday were Spaniard Jordi Alba, Uruguayan Luis Suárez and goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Suárez entered in the 71st minute and was credited with assisting Campana’s goal.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino indicated Friday that Messi’s workload would be a consideration now that the team has secured the Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded to the club with the most units in the regular season. With this, the Florida squad also obtained the advantage of playing at home during the entire playoffs. Inter Miami will play its first home postseason game on October 25.
Messi will join the Argentina national team in the coming days for the World Cup qualifying matches scheduled for October 10 and 15. Those matches and the travel involved would call into question his availability for Inter Miami’s final regular-season game, at home on October 19 against New England.
Oscar Ustari, Messi’s teammate on the Argentine team that won Olympic gold in 2008, was in goal against Toronto in Callender’s place, making his debut for the club. Ustari signed with Inter Miami last month.
Inter Miami’s victory on Saturday keeps the club in position to set the MLS single-season points record. If they win the last game against the Revolution, they would finish with 74 points, one more than the 73 that New England itself achieved in 2021.
Messi has 17 goals in 18 MLS games this season, including two on Wednesday in a 3-2 win over Columbus.