Has defender Tomás Avilés played his final match for Inter Miami? | OneFootball

Avilés, just 22, faces career-defining challenge in Chile

Tomás "Toto" Avilés won't wear Inter Miami's pink and black kit in 2026 and, more than likely, ever again.

Avilés, 22, spent the first half of the Major League Soccer season on loan to CF Montréal; soon after the Canadian squad returned him to Miami, the Herons announced he has been loaned to Chilean first-division side O'Higgins FC for the remainder of 2026 -- which is when his Inter Miami contract ends.

Inter Miami acquired the young defender in August 2023, and he played a key role for former Herons' coach Tata Martino's defense, primarily at center back. That team won the first Leagues Cup championship that summer and earned an MLS single season record 74 points in 2024, winning the Supporters' Shield in the process. But, while physically talented, Avilés played a recklessly aggressive style, earning a league-high 13 yellow cards in 2024 after being booked six times in just 11 league appearances in 2023). Javier Mascherano, who replaced Martinez as coach before the 2025 season, cut Avilés' minutes significantly last season -- from 2,207 to 1,194 -- but the dual national (Argentina and Chile) still collected four yellow cards and a red in league action.

The acquisition of Maximiliano Falcón and Gonzalo Luján before the 2025 season pushed Avilés down the depth chart and the arrival of Micael Dos Santos on loan before this campaign led the Herons to loan Avilés to Montréal. He played just 221 minutes for the team formerly known as the Impact but still managed to get himself red-carded.

According to Transfermarkt, Avilés has 28 yellow cards and 2 red cards in 111 appearances -- 7,116 minutes played -- across all competitions in his short career. That's become a problem.

In September 2024, Avilés told Inter Miami News that his upbringing in Argentina contributed to his style of play.

“It’s something each player has to address individually, our level of aggressiveness," he said. "I think us Latin American players are a little more intense and aggressive and I don’t think people are used to that, and we don’t get any favors.”

The Americas south of the Rio Grande River do have a reputation for playing a more physically aggressive style of soccer -- see Paraguay's 1-0 loss to France earlier this month in the World Cup Round of 16. But many learn to manage their aggression enough to stay on the pitch.

Maybe a return to South America will help Toto revive his flagging career, but even if he stands out at O'Higgins, Las Garzas are unlikely to re-sign Avilés. I think he could become a reliable MLS defender. Unfortunately, Inter Miami's ambitions demand better quality.