Toronto FC welcomes Inter Miami to BMO Field with the two clubs heading in completely different directions. The Canadians come in carrying a strange stat: six straight MLS draws, the first time that’s ever happened in their history. Robin Fraser’s side hasn’t lost since August 9, but they also haven’t found a win, and their playoff hopes are already gone.
On the other side, Javier Mascherano’s men arrive riding the momentum of a 4-0 hammering of New York City FC. They’ve already locked in a postseason spot with five games left on the calendar.
Toronto hanging on without moving forward
The numbers explain the mood around Toronto. Holding their own against strong opponents like Philadelphia, Columbus, and Atlanta shows they’re competitive, yet the inability to turn those games into wins sealed their fate.
The unbeaten home run that stretches back to June is a sign of resilience, but only five victories all year tell the real story of a team still searching for direction.
Messi in playoff gear, Busquets nearing the end
While Toronto drifts, Miami is flying. Messi sits on 24 goals and leads the MLS Golden Boot race. Against NYCFC he once again tilted the match, scoring twice and setting up another. That gave him eight multi-goal outings this season, a mark that few in MLS history have ever reached. Around him, Suárez marked his return from suspension with a penalty, and Baltasar Rodríguez stayed sharp. The trio has fueled Miami’s climb to third place in the East, with two games in hand over their closest rivals.
There’s also an emotional layer to this run. Sergio Busquets has announced he’ll retire when the season ends. At 37, he will close a career filled with 35 trophies won with Barcelona, Spain, and now Inter Miami, where he reunited with Messi, Suárez, and Jordi Alba under Mascherano. His farewell adds one last mission for this group: to lift the MLS Cup and put a final crown on the cycle of players who changed the face of the league.