Inter Miami, fresh off claiming the Supporters’ Shield, will look to continue its relentless pursuit of the MLS single-season points record when they face Toronto FC on Saturday. With two regular-season games remaining, the Herons (20-4-8, 68 points) stand just two victories shy of breaking the league record. The New England Revolution, who set the record of 73 points in 2021, will face Inter Miami in the regular-season finale for both clubs on October 19th.
Despite the historical significance of the record, Lionel Messi, the driving force behind Miami’s success, maintains a broader focus. “We have a nice opportunity to go down in history…and now we think about what is coming,” Messi told Apple TV after Miami’s 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday. “We have a great advantage in that we play (the final game) at home, which is what we were looking for. I think we are very, very strong at home.”
Messi’s impact has been undeniable, scoring twice against the Crew just before halftime, bringing his total to five goals in his last five matches. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, widely considered the best player in the world, has contributed 32 goal involvements (17 goals, 15 assists) this season, trailing only Portland’s Evander in MLS.
While Miami’s playoff spot is secure, Toronto FC (11-18-4, 37 points) finds itself teetering on the edge after extending their winless run to four matches (0-3-1) with a disheartening 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday. With their final game of the regular season on Saturday, Toronto occupies ninth place in the Eastern Conference, edging out the Philadelphia Union (9-13-10, 37 points) and D.C. United (9-13-10, 37 points) thanks to the tiebreaker.
“We didn’t look like a team ready for the playoffs, mentally, emotionally,” said Toronto coach John Herdman. “We’ve got to turn that around because for whatever reason, we could win this weekend and we’re in.” Prince Owusu’s goal in the 66th minute on Wednesday boosted his goal total to a club-best nine this season. The upcoming clash between Inter Miami and Toronto FC promises to be a compelling encounter, with Miami aiming to etch their names in the MLS history books while Toronto fights tooth and nail to secure a playoff berth.
