Inter Miami Falls to Atlanta in MLS Playoffs

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami faced a surprising defeat in the MLS playoffs, with Atlanta United emerging victorious in their best-of-three series. Despite Miami's record-setting regular season and winning the Supporters' Shield, Atlanta, with a much lower regular season point total, caused one of the biggest upsets in MLS history by winning 3-2 in the decisive third game. Messi played a crucial role, scoring an equalizer, but his efforts were insufficient to prevent defeat. Atlanta's Jamal Thiare and Bartosz Slisz were key in securing the win, leading to Miami's early exit from the playoffs. This loss ends Miami's playoff run and raises questions about Messi's future at the club, as coach Tata Martino reflects on the team's progress and potential changes. The defeat also signifies a significant blow to MLS, which had heavily marketed the playoffs around Messi.