Inter Miami are supposed to be the team everyone else in MLS fears. Instead, the reigning MLS Cup champions are stuck in their worst run of form all season. A 2-1 home defeat to Toronto FC at Nu Stadium on Saturday, August 22, 2026, stretched Inter Miami’s winless streak to five games across all competitions, and even a trademark Lionel Messi goal could not paper over the cracks.
How the Slump Unfolded
Just weeks ago, Inter Miami looked unstoppable, riding a club-record six-game winning streak before a 2-2 draw with Columbus Crew brought that run to an end. Since then, the wheels have well and truly come off. A heavy 4-1 defeat at league leaders Nashville SC followed, then two losses in the Leagues Cup, before a dramatic 2-2 draw at Philadelphia Union in which both teams finished with ten men. Saturday’s loss to Toronto FC, sparked by goals from Josh Sargent and Derrick Etienne Jr. inside a chaotic three-minute spell, completed the five-game winless run.
Messi pulled a goal back in the closing stages, assisted by Rodrigo De Paul, but it was little more than a consolation as Toronto held on for a result that snapped their own six-match winless streak in Miami. It is now nearly a month since Inter Miami last tasted victory in MLS play.
What Is Going Wrong for Inter Miami
The Herons have conceded 2.4 goals per game during the slump, a startling number for a team that still leads the league in goals scored. Coach Guillermo Hoyos has been without key contributors throughout the run, including Yannick Bright, who was suspended for Saturday’s match after a red card against Philadelphia, along with injury absentees Tadeo Allende, Micael, Santi Morales and Mateo Silvetti. Adding to the noise around the club, Messi himself was fined by MLS after an off-the-ball incident with Philadelphia Union’s Quinn Sullivan, though the league opted against a suspension.
Despite the struggles, Inter Miami remain second in the Eastern Conference with 39 points, though Nashville SC has now opened up a 10-point lead at the top of the standings and the Supporters’ Shield race.
Messi’s Response and What Comes Next
Even amid the frustration, Messi has continued to find the net, and his reaction after previous rough patches has been telling. The Argentine captain has spoken before about needing the group to pull together during difficult stretches, and reports out of Miami suggest the squad is well aware of how costly continued dropped points could be with the playoffs approaching.
Inter Miami now begin a three-game homestand, with matches against CF Montreal and Atlanta United offering a genuine chance to arrest the slide before it becomes a genuine crisis. For a team with Messi, Luis Suarez, Rodrigo De Paul and Casemiro in the lineup, the talent to turn things around is clearly there. The question now is whether Inter Miami can find their form again before their grip on a top-four finish slips any further.
As MLS playoff positioning tightens heading into the final stretch of the season, all eyes will be on Nu Stadium to see whether Inter Miami can finally end their longest winless run of the year.
