Major League Soccer Cup Playoffs: Lionel Messi suffers massive heartbreak

Lionel Messi's dream of winning the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup with Inter Miami came to a sudden and unexpected halt on Saturday, as his side suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Atlanta United in the first round of the playoffs. Despite finishing the regular season at the top of the table with a record points total and being the clear favorites to lift the MLS Cup, Miami's campaign ended in disappointment. The match was the second in a best-of-three series, and after losing twice, Messi and Miami were eliminated from the postseason. Miami's regular season performance had earned them the prestigious 'Supporters' Shield,' but this achievement counted for little in the face of Atlanta's stunning upset. The visitors, who had finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, pulled off an unexpected victory, sending the heavily favored Miami team home early.

Messi, who had joined Inter Miami amid much fanfare and with high expectations, was unable to lead his team to the title, leaving the club and their fans stunned. This elimination marks a bitter end to what was otherwise a remarkable debut season for Messi in the MLS, but it also highlights the unpredictable nature of knockout football, where regular-season dominance does not always translate to postseason success. With their MLS Cup aspirations dashed, Miami and Messi will now look ahead to regrouping and planning for the future.

Inter Miami took the lead in the 17th minute when Lionel Messi’s powerful shot was denied by a diving save from Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan. However, Matias Rojas was quick to react, pouncing on the loose ball to slot it home and give Miami the advantage. But just two minutes later, Atlanta responded with a quick equalizer. A deflected pass from Dax McCarty found Jamal Thiare, who calmly fired a sweet strike into the net to make it 1-1.

The game took a dramatic turn moments later when Thiare struck again. McCarty, at 37 years old, launched a ball forward to Russian Aleksei Miranchuk, who then played a brilliant pass to Thiare. The Senegalese striker made no mistake, blasting the ball into the back of the net to put Atlanta ahead 2-1. Miami thought they had equalized in the 23rd minute when Diego Gomez found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside, leaving the scoreline unchanged. The fast-paced nature of the match and Atlanta's clinical finishing left Miami stunned as they struggled to respond.

Brad Guzan, the 40-year-old former USA and Aston Villa goalkeeper, was in exceptional form, thwarting Inter Miami's numerous attempts at finding an equalizer. Despite their best efforts, Miami struggled to break down the veteran keeper’s resilient performance. It was Lionel Messi who eventually found the breakthrough in the 65th minute, rising high to meet a pinpoint cross from Marcelo Weigandt on the right. Messi powered the ball into the net with a thunderous header to level the score at 2-2, breathing new life into Miami’s hopes.

However, just as Miami seemed poised to push for the winner, they were caught on the counter. Pedro Amador sent in a cross from the left, and Polish midfielder Bartosz Slisz was perfectly positioned at the back post to head the ball past Miami keeper Drake Callender, restoring Atlanta’s lead at 3-2. Miami pressed forward in the final minutes but couldn’t find the equalizer, sealing their shock exit from the playoffs. Atlanta now advances to face Orlando in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, while the other semi-final will feature a New York derby between New York Red Bulls and New York City FC.