It’s crazy to think Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are already out of the playoffs. A surreal prospect became reality after the club was ousted from the postseason in the decisive Game 3 of its first round last week against wild card qualifier Atlanta United.

Lionel Messi’s Major League Soccer season is over. So, what’s next for the Argentine World Cup champion in the United States? A look ahead to 2025-26.

Fireworks shot out from the rafters of Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Saturday night, but there was nothing for the home team to celebrate. When the final whistle blew in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami had been beaten 3-2 by Atlanta United and eliminated from the MLS playoffs.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami suffered a shock elimination in the first round of the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs on Saturday, losing 3-2 to No. 9 seed Atlanta United on home soil in the best-of-three series decider.

Inter Miami may have set an MLS regular-season points record in 2024, but their unbalanced squad was exposed once the gritty postseason got underway.

Inter Miami are already planning for the 2025 MLS season, taking into account recent comments from Lionel Messi regarding aspects of the 2024 campaign that he found unsatisfactory. Inter Miami‘s 2024 season came to an abrupt end with an unexpected loss to Atlanta United in the first round of the MLS Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Inter Miami's record-breaking MLS season came to an unexpected and screeching halt in the first round of the playoffs against Atlanta United. The Herons—who finished the regular season with 74 points,

Lionel Messi is “three times happier” at Inter Miami than he was at Barcelona because he “plays when he wants to”, says Argentina icon Mario Kempes.