Inter Miami CF forward Leo Messi (10) warms up ahead of a match against Toronto FC MLS, at Nu Stadium on Saturday, Aug 22, 2026, in Miami, Fla.
Pedro Portal
pportal@miamiherald.com
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, aiming to turn things around after a four-game winless skid, got a boost in the attack against Toronto FC Saturday night as German Berterame returned to the starting lineup for the first time since suffering a concussion on July 25.
Berterame started up front along with Luis Suarez, but the duo were unable to find the back of the net in a listless first half that remained scoreless as the teams headed to intermission. Suarez had Miami’s only shot on goal in the first half, but his errant close-range shot missed to the right in the 19th minute.
Both teams had trouble creating scoring chances and neither goalkeeper was challenged in the first half.
Berterame missed the previous six games on concussion protocol, recovering from a hard hit to the head during the road game at Montreal. He was knocked unconscious and left the field in an ambulance.
Berterame spoke to the media on Friday and recounted the scary episode.
“I felt the hit and automatically felt like my T.V. 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 traumatic for his wife and other family members watching on T.V.
“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.”
Inter Miami forward Germán Berterame (19) warms up ahead of a match against Toronto FC MLS, at Nu Stadium on Saturday, Aug 22, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Joining Berterame, Messi and Suarez in Inter Miami’s Starting XI on Saturday were right back Ian Fray, center back Gonzalo Lujan, center back Maxi Falcon, left back Sergio Reguilon, midfielder Casemiro, midfielder Telasco Segovia, and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, back in the lineup after serving a suspension during the 2-2 tie against Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was back in the Miami net for the second game in row after replacing Rocco Rios Novo, who had taken over St. Clair’s starting job after the World Cup. St. Clair is a Toronto native, so the game was particularly special for him.
Midfielder Yannick Bright was unavailable as he served a red card suspension for hitting Philadelphia’s Cadan Sullivan in stoppage time on Wednesday night.
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.
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. This time, it was a very different game.
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.
They have only won one of their last 14 games, but tied eight times eight and moved to within three points of the playoff line.
Toronto defender Walker Zimmerman was suspended for the Miami game after receiving a straight red card early in the second half against Charlotte. Djordje Mihailovic returned from his suspension.
Also in Toronto’s starting lineup were Luka Gavran, Zane Monlouis, Benjamin Kuscevic, Kobe Franklin, Richie Laryea (captain), Alonso Coello, Markus Cimermancic, Josh Sargent, Daniel Salloi, and Derrick Etienne Jr.
This story was originally published August 22, 2026 at 7:52 PM.
Miami Herald
Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman has covered 14 Olympics, six World Cups, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, NCAA Basketball Tournaments, NBA Playoffs, Super Bowls and has been the soccer writer and University of Miami basketball beat writer for 25 years. She was born in Frederick, Md., and grew up in Miami.