Lionel Messi’s second year with Inter Miami ended with both historic success and a painful setback. Despite achieving a record points tally in Major League Soccer and a season full of remarkable accomplishments, the campaign was marred by a bitter conclusion.
Last Saturday evening, Messi and his teammates were defeated 2-3 by Atlanta United in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs. With this result, Atlanta claimed victory in two of the three encounters between the two teams this season.
Under the guidance of Argentine coach Gerardo Martino, Inter Miami finished the regular MLS season atop the Eastern Conference standings. The team also claimed the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the best team of the season, and set a new club record with 74 points in the league.
The fall was particularly painful given the team’s high expectations, especially with stars like Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Diego Gómez, and others leading the charge. This year, Gerardo Martino’s side was also eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup in the quarterfinals by Mexico’s Monterrey and fell in the Round of 16 of the Leagues Cup to Columbus Crew.
Thanks to their strong performance in the regular MLS season, FIFA awarded Messi and his teammates an invitation to the expanded 2025 Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States as part of the host country’s allocation.
