Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, was eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs following a 3-2 defeat to Atlanta United in a decisive Game 3 of their best-of-three first-round series. Despite Messi's goal and a strong regular season performance, Miami was stunned by Atlanta's resilience, with Bartosz Slisz scoring the winning header in the 76th minute amid controversy over an injured Miami player. This victory for Atlanta, a ninth-seed wild card team, marked a major upset as they advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, eliminating all top three seeds in the East. Veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan played a crucial role for Atlanta, making key saves throughout the series. Miami, which secured the Supporters' Shield with a record 74 points, saw their playoff hopes dashed despite the star power of Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets.