Lionel Messi’s first full season with Inter Miami FC came to an end as Atlanta United staged a comeback in the first round play-off match, winning the best-of-three series in dramatic fashion 3-2 in the decider.

Now that the season is over in Miami, there are already whispers about what the future holds for Messi at the Florida club, where he has boosted MLS in the past year. Argentina coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino reflected on the Messi issue during the post-match press conference.

“I don’t really know how limited Messi’s time is in this competition,” Martino said. “It’s a matter of time, but I dare not say it is that short. If you look at the context in which this started, it seems to me that the progress of the club is important,” said Martino, reflecting on the progress of the Miami team, which came into the picture after the addition of Messi to the roster in 2023 .

“The comparison of the last match of last season, in October, with today’s third match in the play-offs and the bitterness we all have because we have not made progress, it is clear that the club’s objectives have been adjusted and I think there is no reason for the club not to keep trying next year,” Martino explains. Inter Miami is managed by former Manchester United and Real Madrid footballer David Beckham.

“What happened this year, the bad and the good in general, has been better than anything that happened last year and I would say even throughout the life of the club,” concluded the experienced Argentine.

Disappointment for Miami after great regular season

Messi’s arrival heralded the subsequent additions of Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets to the team, immediately taking Miami from 14th in the Eastern Conference and 27th in MLS overall in 2023 to a dominant top spot in 2024 pushed. Messi himself contributed with 23. goals and 13 assists in just 24 games.

However, Inter Miami’s dominance in the regular season did not translate into success in the playoffs. They were drawn against Atlanta in the first round, with the team having to win a series of games to qualify in the final playoff spot before defeating Montreal CF in the wild card game.

Miami took a lead in the series with a win in the first game, but fell in the 94th minute of game two in Atlanta to a dramatic late winner from Xande Silva, with Messi having scored an offside goal the minute before.

In the decisive third game, Miami opened the scoring before Atlanta took a 2-1 lead into halftime with a quick double. The experienced goalkeeper from Atlanta was the hero for Atlanta and kept Messi and co. from a distance, but conceded a header to the Argentine star late in the second half. However, Atlanta came right back and Bartosz Slisz scored a header himself, causing a major upset and knocking the title favorites out of contention.

Atlanta will now face Orlando City in the Eastern Conference semifinals, while Miami now faces the long wait for the start of the 2025 season in February, and what will be Messi’s age-38 season.