Lionel Messi was benched at the start of Inter Miami’s match against Toronto FC on Saturday, as coach Tata Martino chose to rest Messi and other key players like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez. With Miami having already secured first place in the MLS Eastern Conference, the team could afford to prioritize rest ahead of the playoffs. Messi, along with Busquets, came on as a substitute in the 61st minute of the game.

The excitement surrounding Messi’s presence in Toronto was palpable, with heightened security measures in place at BMO Field. Fans lined up outside the stadium, with the Miami team bus receiving a police escort. The buzz around the game was reflected in ticket prices, with some resale tickets fetching as much as $7,700 on StubHub.

This match followed Miami’s mid-week 3-2 win against Columbus, where Messi scored twice, helping his team secure the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular-season record. Messi’s stellar performance earned him player of the matchday honors for the fifth time this season, putting him in elite company alongside players like Carlos Vela and Thierry Henry, who have also achieved this accolade five or more times in a season.

Though Messi started the game on the bench, the 37-year-old Argentine has had an incredible impact since joining MLS, with 17 goals and 15 assists in just 17 league appearances. Miami, with 68 points before Saturday’s match, was eyeing the league’s single-season points record of 73, set by New England in 2021.

Before the match, Toronto FC welcomed back a club legend, Sebastian Giovinco, who was unveiled as a special adviser and ambassador for the team. The Italian forward remains Toronto’s all-time leading scorer, with 83 goals during his time with the club from 2015 to 2018.