After MLS Cup Playoff exit - Where do Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF go from here?

The shockwaves could be felt around the world, as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF crashed out of the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Despite a heavily skewed playoff format to favor the favorites, Inter Miami failed to get past Atlanta United, losing the final game of a three-game series 2-3. It is a surprising result, too, given that Inter Miami seemed to be in complete control of the series after winning their initial home game 2-1. But a shock 2-1 defeat in Atlanta and then the collapse last night, and now Messi and Miami are out of the playoffs. 

Of course, Major League Soccer executives will never truly admit it, but there is no doubt that the result will provide some consternation. After Inter Miami missed out on the playoffs last season, Miami would be the star attraction of the MLS Cup Playoffs this year. It wasn’t just Messi, either. The ownership group around David Beckham put together a star-studded squad that not only has the highest squad value in the league but also the club with the biggest salary. Last year, the club added Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, and then this year, Luis Suárez joined. 

Since Lionel Messi joined in the summer of 2023, Inter Miami have invested €21.45m in new players, and with a transfer deficit of €17.72m, the club from South Florida ranks first in MLS. The new arrivals included Federico Redondo (signed for €7.45m), Tomás Avilés (€6.3m), Facundo Farías (€5m) and Diego Gómez (€2.7m). All those new additions made Inter Miami the most valuable squad in MLS history, with a combined squad value of €94.08m. And in fairness, off the pitch, it could pay off. Gómez, for example, is on the verge of joining Brighton in what will be a record deal for the club.

Lionel Messi: 20 goals in 19 MLS games - But fizzled out in the playoffs 

On the pitch, the strategy also seemed to work. Inter Miami dominated the regular season, securing the Supporters’ Shield with a league record of 74 points. Despite struggling with injuries, Messi scored 20 goals and 10 assists in 19 MLS regular season games. But then the playoffs arrived. Let’s be honest: MLS has gone a long way in trying to eliminate chance from the playoff picture by turning single elimination into a three-game series that doesn’t consider goals scored by the respective teams. In other words, even if Miami would lose one game, surely, they wouldn’t lose two against an underdog like Atlanta United. 

Only they did, leaving MLS and Inter Miami in a situation where the most valuable squad and franchise with the most recognizable player in world football are now out of the league’s premier event. To make matters worse, Messi struggled in the playoffs scoring just one goal and one assist in the three game series. Messi, in fact, seemed to run out of steam at times and that, too, is a sign of things to come as the Argentine will turn 38 during the 2025 season. 

So where will MLS, Inter Miami, and Lionel Messi go from here? MLS might be just fine; they can point to the fact that unlike most major European leagues they have found a system that introduced a major element of chance when it comes to determining a league champion. Good luck, though, in selling that to Apple TV executives. Inter Miami at least managed to secure a spot in the new FIFA Club World Cup. But for the club and Messi, the clock is ticking. Messi’s contract will expire after next season, and for both sides to maximize the US experience, they need trophies beyond last year's Leagues Cup success. That will put maximum pressure on success next year as all parties will try to salvage the Messi experiment.