Lionel Messi makes Toronto trip as soccer fans ‘hope to see’ superstar play

Soccer star Lionel Messi has arrived in Canada’s largest city as his team, Inter Miami, prepares to face Toronto FC.

Saturday’s match marks Messi’s first appearance in Toronto since joining Major League Soccer (MLS) last year. Tickets for the game are in high demand, but with the MLS regular season winding down, it remains uncertain whether Toronto fans will see one of soccer’s all-time greats on the field.

"Hope to see Messi play!" wrote X user @vwgiannoudis on Thursday. "Bought tickets to the game. It’s been a dream of mine for years to watch him in action. The fans in Toronto are very excited."

October's Packed Soccer Schedule
Messi’s visit to Toronto comes during a busy stretch in both domestic and international soccer. The 37-year-old is expected to represent Argentina in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches on October 10 and 15. After that, he’ll return to the U.S. for Miami’s October 19 game against New England.

Inter Miami still has something at stake in the final two regular-season games. Victories against Toronto and New England could see them finish with 74 points, surpassing New England’s record of 73 set in 2021.

Despite that, Messi and his teammates claimed the Supporters' Shield on Wednesday, awarded to the best regular-season team in MLS. “I’m happy,” Messi said after Wednesday's 3-2 win over Columbus Crew, where he netted two goals. “Happy for this group.”

Since joining the club last year, Messi helped secure Inter Miami's first major trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup, though the team missed the MLS playoffs that season.

Messi's Vancouver Absence Led to Legal Action
Fans in Montreal were treated to Messi’s first Canadian appearance on May 11, but those in Vancouver were disappointed.

When Inter Miami faced Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 25, Messi and other star players were announced as absent just two days before the match. This prompted a B.C. soccer fan to file a proposed class-action lawsuit, accusing the Whitecaps and MLS of a "bait-and-switch" tactic. Thousands of fans petitioned for refunds.

In response, the Whitecaps told Global News in June that they had "immediately communicated the news to ticket holders" and offered complimentary tickets to a future 2024 home game. The MLS acknowledged the lawsuit but declined to comment.

Whether Messi starts in Toronto or comes on as a substitute remains uncertain, but Inter Miami shared photos of Messi and his teammates traveling to the city. The game kicks off at 4 p.m. Eastern.