ORLANDO — Everyone knows the best social-media jabs and jokes are the ones deleted before they get posted.

Michael Bradley weighed this problem last week before ultimately deciding not to Instagram a few videos of his son, Luca, hilariously professing — as much as a four-year-old can — his dislike for the Montreal Impact.

Bradley described his son’s response as “unprompted” amid sharing the short clip with your correspondent — a brief foray into the charming home life of Toronto FC’s captain, who turns 30 later this month.

“My son has quickly realized that whenever Montreal is playing, he wants them to lose regardless of who they’re playing against,” Bradley told the Toronto Sun at the club’s hotel ahead of Wednesday’s match against Orlando City.

“Any time Montreal is playing he’s rooting against them pretty hard,” Bradley added with a grin. “And if TFC is playing Montreal he’s rooting against them really hard.”

Luca now knows the 401 Derby also is a chance to stay up past his bedtime — especially when dad is playing for a trophy.

“It was a Tuesday night and the kids’ last day of school was coming up,” Bradley added. “At one point my wife (Amanda) said, ‘It’s a school night. I’ll get a babysitter and go to BMO Field by myself.

“She came back a little later and said, ‘Wait a second! The kids have to come. If you guys win, the chance for them to be there and to share that with you, they can’t miss that.’”

It all happened like it was supposed to thanks to a gritty team effort and Sebastian Giovinco’s late heroics. Then, Amanda, Luca and Quinn Elle joined Bradley on the field post-game to touch the trophy and take in the fireworks that lit up the night sky above the most raucous stadium in Canada.

“When you have moments like that and to have the people who you’re closest with there,” Bradley added, “to be able to share it with them is something you never forget.”

It was a night etched in Bradley’s memory — a night when Toronto FC’s near-capacity-crowd continued to show the sporting landscape in Toronto is shifting course.

“The atmosphere the other night...” Bradley paused as he searched for words. “It was unbelievable. I mean, a Tuesday night in June? The atmosphere in the second half? I mean, that doesn’t happen anywhere in the league.

“To see the way the club has grown and is growing into the fabric of Toronto is unbelievable. In so many ways that’s just as rewarding as any one win that we’ve had.”

Winning is merely a symptom of Bradley’s original promise.

At his introductory press event three-and-a-half years ago, TFC’s captain guaranteed one thing: A side Toronto can be proud of.

Mission accomplished, it would seem.

But even Bradley was taken aback by the number of people who’ve continued to approach him following last year’s run to the MLS Cup final.

“I went to one of the Leafs-Capitals playoff games,” Bradley told the Sun. “The number of people at a Leafs playoff game who came up to me and congratulated me, it was unbelievable.

“They were basically saying, ‘Yeah, (the NHL playoffs) are awesome, but the atmosphere at the ACC doesn’t compare to the one you guys have at BMO.’ They were saying that at a Leafs playoff game! That’s why I came here.”

While preliminary promises have been kept, Bradley’s missions — both individually and collectively — haven’t yet wrapped up.

In addition to perhaps another run at an MLS Cup, he intends to play a big role at next summer’s World Cup. He hopes to be there in 2022, as well, though he admits competition for places at 34 years old will be more fierce.

“My best years are still ahead of me,” Bradley said. “With how much I love to work, my ceiling is still much higher ... to be better and more consistent at a higher level in the best games.”

Collectively, The General didn’t hesitate to raise the bar for him and his TFC teammates, either. He wants to win everything.

“I feel like now we’re in a place where we will genuinely compete to win every trophy for the next few years,” Bradley said. “Will we win every one? I sure as hell hope so.

"But, maybe not."

He talks about being “on a mission” to win this year’s Supporters Shield and MLS Cup before being the first MLS side to claim next year’s CONCACAF Champions League.

He wonders “what it could all mean for Toronto and for TFC’s place in the city.”

Rest assured, if all of that happens Bradley will be Instagramming anything he pleases.

BRADLEY TALKS ABOUT ‘THE GOAL’

Michael Bradley surprised everyone last month when he scored from 50 metres in a huge World Cup qualifier against Mexico.

That is, Bradley surprised everyone except, well, Michael Bradley.

“Surprised? No,” Bradley responded when asked to talk about one the greatest goals in U.S. soccer history.

“Excited, yeah. Very excited,” Bradley added.

Even sweeter was the fact the U.S. escaped Azteca Stadium with a valuable draw that has the Americans back on track to qualify for next summer’s World Cup.

“We said before the game that night that for an American there’s no better game than U.S.-Mexico at Azteca,” Bradley said.

“To be able to help make a difference on that night and get a goal like that, I won’t forget that.”

The U.S. currently sits third in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, a point ahead of Panama for the third an final guaranteed spot at Russia 2018.

klarson@postmedia.com