VIDEO: Vintage Lionel Messi! Argentine superstar tees himself up & fires home pinpoint strike for record-setting Inter Miami goal against Toronto in MLS

Argentine superstar Messi thought that he had broken the deadlock in that contest when slipping beyond a challenge on the edge of the box and drilling into the back of the net with 38 minutes on the clock. That effort was, however, ruled out following a VAR review.

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The Herons then fell behind two minutes into first-half stoppage-time when ex-Italy international Federico Bernardeschi found the target. There was still enough time on the clock for Messi to restore parity before the interval.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was afforded too much space just inside the penalty area, allowing him to control a pass that was fizzed into his feet and spin on the spot. A trademark left-footed volley was then hooked into the bottom corner.

That effort means that Messi now has 44 goal contributions for Inter Miami across his MLS career. Nobody in the club’s history has more, with the reigning MVP adding another entry to the record books.

Messi, who has seen his game time carefully managed after picking up the odd injury, completed the full 90 minutes against Toronto at Chase Stadium. He was unable to help Inter Miami find a winner, as they were held to a 1-1 draw, but Javier Mascherano’s side remain unbeaten in MLS action this season.