The future of Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer has been thrown into doubt after Inter Miami crashed out of the 2024 MLS Playoffs.
After finishing in a dire position in the 2023 MLS regular season, Lionel Messi led the charge as Inter Miami rose to the peak of their game in the 2024 regular season.
They wrapped up the regular season, clinching the Eastern Conference 2024 Supporters’ Shield with a record 74 points.
Following an impressive campaign and the array of top and experienced players in their ranks, the team was tipped as favorites to win the 2024 MLS Playoffs, but the high hopes were cut short in the most dramatic of fashion.
Atlanta United knocked out Inter Miami from the 2024 MLS Playoffs.
In round one of the best-of-three decider, Inter Miami suffered a shock home defeat to Atlanta United to crash out of the competition.
Matias Rojas fired the home side into the lead just 17 minutes into play. However, in a quick turn of events, Atlanta United fired back through a quickfire brace by Jamal Thiare to turn the game on its head before the break.
Five minutes after the hour mark, Inter Miami pegged the visitors to a 2-2 draw. Lionel Messi scored a screamer to restore the team’s comeback hopes.
11 minutes after Messi’s equalizer, the hard-fighting and resilient visitors retook the lead with a brilliant header from Bartosz Slisz. It was a nightmare scoreline for the Herons. They had less than 15 minutes to fight their way back into the game but were stunned in what has been termed the biggest upset in the competition.
Against all odds, the No. 9 seed team ran out with an unlikely victory against the Eastern Conference champions, grabbing a 3-2 victory to bundle them out of the competition.
Lionel Messi future in the MLS in doubt after shock playoffs defeat
The future of Lionel Messi in the US elite division has dominated the conversation following Inter Miami’s shock defeat.
The eight-time record-extending Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona legend has been linked to a possible exit from the club following the playoff deadlock.
Addressing rumors linking Messi to a premature exit from the club, Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Tata Martino said he cannot actually speak on the player’s future.
“I actually don’t know how limited [Messi’s time in MLS] is. There is a question of time passing, but I would not dare to say that it is so short,” he said regarding the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s future.
In October 2024, Messi doused reports that he would retire when his contract with the club expired. According to him, his love for the sport is so immense that he is not thinking of calling a quit soon, and he is hopeful of making Inter Miami a great and more competent club.
“My love for this sport is immense. We came here to make this club even greater. I didn’t come to retire,” he said.
Messi has a year and one month left on his Inter Miami contract. He still has a full season to challenge for the MLS Cup and is likely to continue his career next season.
Meanwhile, he will be expected to link up with the Argentina national team for the double-header 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru in the November international break.
