TORONTO (AP) — Lionel Messi played off the bench for Inter Miami on Saturday at Toronto, the next-to-last contest of the regular season for the MLS Supporters Shield winners.
He was on the field for the only goal, Leonardo Campana's score in the third minute of second-half stoppage time that gave Inter Miami a 1-0 victory and moved the Herons one win away from setting the MLS record for points in a season.
Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, came on as a reserve in the 61st minute, as did fellow would-be starter Sergio Busquets. Also out of the starting 11 for Inter Miami on Saturday were Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Suarez came on in the 71st minute and was credited with the assist on Campana's goal.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino indicated Friday that Messi's workload would be a consideration now that the team has wrapped up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the entirety of the MLS Cup playoffs. Inter Miami will play its first playoff match at home on Oct. 25.
Messi is set to report to Argentina's national team in the coming days for World Cup qualifying matches on Oct. 10 and Oct. 15. Those matches, and the travel involved, would figure to put his availability in some doubt for Inter Miami's regular-season finale at home on Oct. 19 against New England.
Oscar Ustari — a teammate of Messi's on the Argentina team that won Olympic gold in 2008 — was in goal against Toronto in Callender's spot, making his debut with the club. Ustari signed with Inter Miami last month.
Inter Miami's win Saturday keeps the club in position to set the MLS single-season points record. If it wins the finale against New England, the Herons would finish with 74 points — one more than the 73 that New England managed in 2021.
Messi has 17 goals in 18 MLS matches this season, including two in the shield-clinching 3-2 win at Columbus on Wednesday.
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The Associated Press
