Inter Miami vs. Toronto MLS soccer odds, props: Clean-shaven Lionel Messi expected back in lineup Wednesday, biggest betting favorite yet as anytime goalscorer

It's an absolutely great Wednesday for soccer fans with eight UEFA Champions League matches this afternoon and then nearly every MLS team in action in the evening. Inter Miami looks to continue its long-shot playoff push and is expected to have superstar Lionel Messi in the lineup after missing the team's last game. Messi, who has shaven off his trademark beard, is a monstrous -330 favorite at DraftKings to be an anytime goalscorer against visiting Toronto FC. Click here for expert picks.

The top nine teams from each conference make the MLS playoffs and Inter Miami currently sits 14th in the East with 28 points, ahead of only Toronto (22). The current ninth-place team in the East, DC United, has 35 points. It's going to be very tough sledding for Messi & Co. to reach the playoffs.

How important is Messi to Inter Miami? It is unbeaten in all competitions when he plays and lost 5-2 in Atlanta without him on Saturday. Miami manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino said Messi and teammate defender Jordi Alba missed the game due to "muscular fatigue" and that their absences were not related to the FieldTurf surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Forward Leonardo Campana netted both of the team's goals in the loss.

Miami defender DeAndre Yedlin stated the obvious -- his team missed Messi on Saturday: "Obviously you talk about Leo, he's the best player ever in the game, from the opponent's standpoint it strikes a bit of fear in them as well. Experience means a lot, especially in this league. As you saw in that Atlanta game where it's up and down, up and down, [having Messi] helps slow the game down a bit."

Messi has 11 total goals with Inter Miami but just one in three MLS matches (team has two wins and a draw). The -330 price is his lowest to be an anytime scorer since coming to America. He is also the +150 favorite as a first goalscorer. For a hat trick, he's +450. Reportedly, this is the first time Messi has completely shaved off his beard since he was with Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

This concludes the season series between these teams. Way back on March 18 in Toronto, the home side prevailed 2-0. Jonathan Osorio and Mark-Anthony Kaye scored second-half goals. Messi was still with PSG at that point.

Inter Miami is 5-2 all-time against Toronto in the MLS regular season and is a -330 favorite tonight with Toronto at +650 and a draw +425. 

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