Lionel Messi and Inter Miami suffered a shock elimination in the first round of the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs on Saturday, losing 3-2 to No. 9 seed Atlanta United on home soil in the best-of-three series decider.

Inter Miami's record-breaking MLS season came to an unexpected and screeching halt in the first round of the playoffs against Atlanta United.

The Argentine won't be in MLS forever and his shock early exit from the playoffs is an opportunity to really evaluate 'the Messi effect'

Inter Miami clinching the most points in the 2024 MLS season allowed them to take the host spot for the FIFA Club World Cup. Nonetheless, it’s a merit that wasn’t earned considering that the league has a playoff format to determine their champion.

Inter Miami came up short in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs but still made history in the regular season thanks to its talented squad. The Herons amassed 74 points from 34 regular season games to achieve the greatest regular season in MLS history,

There will be no MLS Cup for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami this year. Atlanta United saw to that with a massive upset, sending the game’s most decorated player and biggest-spending team home earlier than anyone imagined.

Inter Miami has played Atlanta five times this year, and won just once, 2-1 in the playoff opener at home. Atlanta beat Miami 3-1 back in May, they tied 2-2 in September, and Atlanta stunned Miami on Saturday to force Game 3 with an extra-time game winner by Xande Silva before a crowd of 68,455 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Herons' Round 1 playoff exit raises questions about their transfer and recruitment strategy over the past season