Lionel Messi's 14th goal of the season wasn't enough to prevent Inter Miami CF from slumping to a 2-1 defeat against Toronto FC at Nu Stadium on Saturday, marking their fourth loss in five games. Toronto struck twice in three second-half minutes through striker Prince Owusu and Lorenzo Insigne, securing just their fifth win in 21 MLS matches this season. Messi found the net with a first-time finish from a Sergio Busquets throughball with eight minutes remaining, but Miami's late rally fell short.

The result extends Toronto's lead over Inter Miami to 10 points at the top of the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield standings. While Miami remains second in the conference, last season's MLS Cup winners now face pressure to secure a top-four playoff spot. Head coach Javier Mascherano acknowledged the team's struggle with results affecting their mindset, taking full responsibility for the poor run since replacing Gerardo Martino in April.

The loss compounds a difficult week for Miami after Messi and defender Tomás Avilés were fined by MLS for separate incidents against the Philadelphia Union. Meanwhile, Toronto, now four games unbeaten, has climbed back into playoff contention. Owusu, whose goal was just his fourth since a $22 million offseason move, emphasized the team's fighting spirit and momentum.