Lionel Messi and Inter Miami faced a surprising first-round exit from the MLS playoffs on Saturday, falling 3-2 to Atlanta United in a dramatic series decider on home turf.
Miami midfielder Matías Rojas opened the scoring in the 17th minute, but Atlanta quickly responded with two goals from striker Jamal Thiaré, taking the lead before halftime. Messi, who recently became Inter Miami’s all-time top scorer, equalized in the 65th minute with his first playoff goal, bringing the score to 2-2. However, Atlanta regained the lead in the 76th minute with a header from Bartosz Slisz, securing one of the biggest playoff upsets in MLS history against top-seeded Miami.
Inter Miami entered the playoffs as the season’s top team, finishing with a league-best 74 points and claiming the Supporters’ Shield, along with a controversial invite to the FIFA Club World Cup. Despite their record-breaking regular season, Miami’s playoff journey was cut short, much to the disappointment of players and fans alike. Defender Jordi Alba, who has no previous experience with postseason play due to his career in Europe, remarked that the playoff format seemed “a little unfair” and suggested a simpler championship format with conference winners facing off directly.
Atlanta United, the No. 9 seed who narrowly qualified for the playoffs on the last day of the season, will now face No. 4 seed Orlando City in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Interim manager Rob Valentino expressed joy and pride for his team’s accomplishment, emphasizing the resilience of his players and the support from the club’s ownership.
The Eastern Conference now looks unpredictable, with the top three seeds eliminated after early upsets for Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati as well. The playoffs will continue in a single-elimination format, and the MLS Cup final is scheduled for December 7.