Toronto FC Focused on Team Effort Against Messi-Led Inter Miami TORONTO — Winless in six games across all competitions, Toronto FC faces the unenviable task of hosting Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon. Messi had 29 goals in 28 games last season en route to being named the league’s MVP and guiding the Herons to their first MLS Cup, and he’s in fine form once again this year. The World Cup winner and eight-time FIFA world player of the year has eight goals and a pair of assists in 10 matches to begin the 2026 campaign, and he’s coming off a performance last week in which he had three goal contributions in a 4-3 home loss to Orlando City. But the Argentine ace has been relatively muted in four previous contests against Toronto with just one goal, raising hopes that TFC can earn their first win since April 4. What’s the key to stopping “the best who’s ever played the game,” as Toronto coach Robin Fraser put it? “I think about the old Michael Jordan expression: you can’t stop him; we can only hope to contain him. I think that the same could be said [about Messi]. …Certainly, you have to pay attention to him and know where he is and defend him really well,” Fraser explained. It’s a sentiment echoed by veteran centre-back Walker Zimmerman, who’ll be front and centre on Saturday trying to limit the havoc wreaked by Messi. Zimmerman, a two-time MLS defender of the year before joining TFC last off-season as a free agent, has first-hand experience facing Messi during his time with his previous club, Nashville SC. “You obviously know that his quality in front of goal is special, and so [you try] to limit the amount of times that he has a free lane to shoot or make a final pass.#lionel_messi #inter_miami #toronto_fc #robin_fraser #walker_zimmerman
