Coach Tata Martino had quite the celebration after Lionel Messi and Inter Miami won the MLS Supporters’ Shield title earlier this week.
“I drank two beers,” Martino said Friday, following the club’s 3-2 win over Columbus Crew on Wednesday night to clinch the regular-season title.
Now, it’s back to business.
Messi and Inter Miami return to action at Toronto FC on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET in the second-to-last match of the regular season. If Inter Miami wins its remaining matches, the team will accumulate 74 points to set a new MLS regular-season record.
Saturday’s game will be the last of the season for Toronto, clinging onto the ninth and final spot in the MLS Eastern Conference playoff race. The No. 8 and No. 9 teams in the conference will play in a Wild Card match Oct. 22 to decide which club will open the playoffs in a best-of-three series against Inter Miami on Oct. 25.
So, there’s something on the line for both clubs in the MLS standalone afternoon match Saturday.
“We like to win every game, so we’re going to aim to win these next two games,” defender Ian Fray said. “If that’s what gets us to 74 points, that’s amazing. We’re going for that because we want to win every game.”
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Toronto live stream?
The Inter Miami match against Toronto FC begins at 4 p.m. ET and available for live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Will Messi play against Toronto?
Messi’s availability for the Toronto match has not yet been decided as of Friday. He could start and played limited minutes, come off the bench, or potentially not play.
Messi has played in five games since his Copa America right ankle injury, most recently scoring two goals in a five-minute span against Columbus to clinch the club’s second title since he arrived in July 2023.
While Martino noted Messi continues to get stronger with the minutes he logs, and his rhythm has regained its form, the club wants to be conscious of the minutes Messi plays Saturday.
After the Toronto match, Messi will join the Argentine national team for two World Cup qualifying matches – Oct. 10 at Venezuela and Oct. 15 vs. Bolivia.
The MLS season ends on Oct. 19 where Inter Miami will host New England Revolution, who set the points record with 73 in 2021.
“I understand people’s expectations and the fact of coming to see him,” Martino said of Messi playing in Toronto. “Even so, we will try to decide the best for his health fundamentally.”
Inter Miami’s first playoff game announced
MLS announced Inter Miami will begin the MLS Cup Playoffs with a Friday night match on Oct. 25. The game will be available to live stream for free via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and broadcast live in New York City’s Time Square.