Messi, Inter Miami hope to snap winless streak, Berterame back vs. Toronto

Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald on Aug 21, 2026

Published in Soccer

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MIAMI — Inter Miami, seeking to end a four-game winless skid, kicks off a three-game homestand on Saturday against Toronto FC.

Lionel Messi and his teammates hung on to second place in the Eastern Conference standings despite a 2-2 midweek tie on the road against Philadelphia in a testy game that ended with one player from each team being sent off with a red card during stoppage time.

Midfielder Yannick Bright was the Miami player ejected and is suspended for Saturday’s game at Nu Stadium. Philadelphia Union 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan, whom Bright struck, had his red card, suspension and fine rescinded on Friday by an MLS Independent Review Panel.

Messi and Miami defender Ian Fray were fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for violating the league’s policy regarding hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent during the match against Philadelphia, but neither was suspended.

Rodrigo De Paul returns to the midfield after serving his suspension for yellow card accumulation and forward German Berterame finally will be available after missing six games while on concussion protocol.

Berterame spoke to the media on Friday for the first time since exiting the game at Montreal in an ambulance after a hard hit to the head. He recounted the scary evening and what followed.

“I felt the hit and automatically felt like, as I described it, like my TV went off,” Berterame said. “I woke up in the ambulance, conscious, and asked what happened. As the hours went by, I started regaining my memory, remembering everything.”

He added that it was particularly scary for TV viewers, and traumatic for his wife and other family members, who saw him lose consciousness.

“My family took it very hard, my wife had a panic attack for the image that was shown,” he said, holding back tears. “But now I am fine. I am happy. My family is at peace and that’s all that matters.”

Experiencing that medical emergency gave Berterame a new perspective on life. He also thanked the team’s medical staff and his family for dealing with his occasional bad mood days during his recovery.

“It hits you hard, makes you think the whole time, reminds you to enjoy every moment, everything, where you work, who your friends are, your family, enjoy my daughters, that’s what I take with me,” he said.

Berterame, who has scored seven goals this season, is eager to get back on the field after the three-week layoff. He was especially sorry to miss the Leagues Cup game against his ex-club Monterrey and San Luis and Leon, Mexican teams he knows well from his six years in Liga MX.

“I am very enthusiastic about returning, and anxious,” he said. “What happened is in the past and now my focus is on my return. I was feeling very well before the World Cup and after, before what happened [in Montreal].”

Miami leads the league with 48 goals but has conceded 11 over the past four games and with the tie at Philadelphia dropped seven points below Eastern Conference leader Nashville in the Supporters Shield race.

The team has a chance to make up ground with three home games in a row against teams in the bottom half of the table.

“Obviously, the team is very motivated because this team never relaxes, despite the circumstances,” he said. “This team will always give maximum effort. Sometimes things go well, sometimes they don’t, but you have to move forward. That’s also what I’m trying to do myself.”

Miami beat Toronto 4-2 on the road when they last played in May. Messi, De Paul, Luis Suarez and Sergio Reguilon scored in that game and Emilio Aristizabal had a brace for Toronto.

One of the big questions heading into the match is who will start in goal for Inter Miami.

Canadian Dayne St. Clair, a Toronto native, was benched and replaced by Rocco Rios Novo coming out of the World Cup break. St. Clair was back in net midweek, made four saves, and would surely be especially motivated against his hometown team.

Toronto, coached by former Miami Palmetto High grad and FIU standout Robin Fraser, is coming off a 3-3 tie against Charlotte FC and sits in 11th place in the East with four wins, seven losses and nine draws.

Although they have only won one of their last 14 games, the Reds have earned points from eight ties during that stretch and moved to within three points of the playoff line.

Miami is expected to be missing center back Micael (ankle), who was on a stationary bike Friday morning, and Mateo Silvetti (shoulder), who was not at practice.

Daniel Pinter and Messi scored against the Union. Messi is tied for second in the Golden Boot race with 13 goals.

Toronto defender Walker Zimmerman will be suspended for this game after receiving a straight red card early in the second half against Charlotte. Djordje Mihailovic is eligible to return from his suspension.

Saturday’s game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will air on Apple TV.