Messi and Inter Miami, the trophy favorite and Supporters Shield winner who set a regular season points record in 2024, were knocked out of MLS Cup contention on Saturday by ninth-seeded Atlanta United, who defeated Miami 3-2 at home in the final game of the first round, best-of-three series.
Miami built an early lead before trailing late in the first half. Messi equalized for the hosts midway through the second, but Atlanta midfielder Bartosz Slisz scored the eventual game-winner with approximately a quarter-hour of regular time remaining.
Guzan, a 40-year-old former English Premier League and United States national team veteran who is the second-oldest active player in MLS, was a brick wall in goal for his club throughout the postseason.
Guzan recorded eight saves on Saturday, including several against Messi. Miami began the match without Sergio Busquets, Messi’s longtime Barcelona partner. Busquets, who had flu-like symptoms on the eve of the game, came off the bench immediately after Slisz’s goal but couldn’t assist his team score a third.
Miami’s first-round exit is a big blow for Messi, who stated earlier this month that winning the American and Canadian League’s most coveted title is the Herons’ top aim.
“That’s the real title that we want, MLS Cup,” Messi stated on the eve of the playoffs during an interview with 433. “We’re going to fight for that.”
Messi’s second season in the United States was a significant improvement over his first, when he entered mid-season six months after establishing his reputation with a 2022 World Cup victory and immediately powered Miami to the first Leagues Cup title ahead of 46 other MLS and top-tier Mexican teams.
However, the GOAT was hurt down the stench in 2023, and Miami missed the playoffs. Tata Martino’s team led from start to finish this year, even without the Argentine superstar, who missed a third of the season representing the Albiceleste or recovering from an ankle injury sustained in Argentina’s Copa América final match in July.
Messi and Inter Miami had a successful season despite not winning the MLS Cup. In addition to earning a historic 74 regular season points, the Supporters’ Shield victory persuaded FIFA, the global soccer governing body, to offer the Herons a spot in next year’s expanded Club World Cup. The competition’s opening match will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Messi, who is in the final year of his MLS deal, is set to join his national side next week for World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.
Miami’s 2025 season begins in February of next year.
