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.

There will be no MLS Cup for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami this year. Atlanta United saw to that with a massive upset, sending the game’s most decorated player and biggest-spending team home earlier than anyone imagined.

Inter Miami has played Atlanta five times this year, and won just once, 2-1 in the playoff opener at home. Atlanta beat Miami 3-1 back in May, they tied 2-2 in September, and Atlanta stunned Miami on Saturday to force Game 3 with an extra-time game winner by Xande Silva before a crowd of 68,455 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

In a major upset, Atlanta United eliminated Inter Miami from the MLS playoffs, winning 3-2 in a thrilling Game 3. Jason Longshore is a color commentator for Atlanta United and he joined “All Things Considered” to talk about the Five Stripes’ comeback victory and what’s next for the underdog team.

Ailing Sergio Busquets has been ruled out of Saturday’s Inter Miami game against Atlanta United, meaning Lionel Messi will be without one of his most trusted teammates for the win-or-else playoff matchup.

Inter Miami suffered a stunning first-round elimination from the 2024 Major League Soccer playoffs after falling 3-2 against Atlanta United in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference series at Chase Stadium on Saturday night.

Inter Miami welcomes Atlanta United FC to Chase Stadium Saturday for the finale of their best-of-3 first-round playoff series. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET (Apple TV). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook'

D espite winning the Supporters' Shield and setting a new record for points in a season with 74, Inter Miami are on the brink of being eliminated in the first round of the playoff