Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami suffer worst winless streak in more than two years after Toronto defeat

Lionel Messi was unable to alter Inter Miami‘s trajectory once again as the Herons suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat against Toronto FC at Nu Stadium. Following Saturday’s loss, the Fort Lauderdale club has officially matched its worst winless streak in more than two years.

Coming off a 2-2 draw against the Philadelphia Union, Miami hosted a Toronto side that had managed just one victory in its previous nine road matches alongside three draws and five losses. Despite creating the clearer scoring chances early, the Herons failed to break the deadlock before second-half strikes from Josh Sargent and Derrick Etienne Jr. in the 59th and 62nd minutes put the visitors ahead 2-0.

A sharp through ball behind the defense from Rodrigo De Paul picked out Lionel Messi, who pulled one back for the Herons, but Miami could not complete the comeback. The result marks the fifth consecutive match in which the defending MLS champions have failed to win, including four losses in their last five outings.

The numbers across this cold stretch paint a grim picture for Miami, starting with Leagues Cup eliminations via 2-1 and 3-2 losses against CF Monterrey and Club Leon, followed by a 4-1 loss to Nashville, a 2-2 draw with Philadelphia, and Saturday’s 2-1 setback against Toronto. Over that five-game span, the Herons have surrendered 13 goals while scoring just seven, exposing glaring defensive vulnerabilities.

Worst winless record in more than two years for Inter Miami

Fueled by an elite attack led by Messi, Inter Miami have established themselves as an MLS powerhouse in recent seasons, particularly since the Argentine superstar arrived in South Florida. However, this current slump has dragged the team back to an era prior to its roster consolidation.

The last time Inter Miami endured a five-game winless drought was back in March and April of 2024. During that span, the Herons suffered a 4-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls, a 1-1 draw against New York City FC, a 2-1 loss to Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids, and a 3-1 second-leg defeat to Monterrey.

That previous slump differed significantly in terms of calendar timing and Messi’s availability, occurring at the start of the 2024 season. Messi missed the first three matches of that 2024 streak due to injury, returned for a 45-minute stint against Colorado, and played all 90 minutes in the second leg against Monterrey.

By contrast, the current skid arrives during the critical stretch run of the season with a far more active Messi. The forward missed only the initial Leagues Cup match against Monterrey while away in Argentina mourning the passing of his father, returned to play the second half against Leon, and played every minute of the team’s last three MLS fixtures.

Nu Stadium far from a comfortable venue for Miami

Beginning their title defense on the road, Inter Miami played five away matches to start the 2026 MLS campaign while awaiting the opening of Miami Freedom Park, now known as Nu Stadium. However, the club’s new state-of-the-art home venue has proven anything but comforting for Messi and company.

Isolating home results, Inter Miami hold an unimpressive 3-4-2 record at Nu Stadium, ranking 23rd overall in home performance across MLS. That domestic struggle stands in stark contrast to their league-leading form on the road, where Miami hold an elite 8-2-2 record across 12 away fixtures.