Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s season ended after a 3-2 defeat to Atlanta United.

Messi and Miami were expected to advance to the next stage of the NLS play-offs, with Atlanta becoming first round opponents after winning the wild card round.

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Miami finished the regular season top of the Eastern Conference and earned the best record in the competition by winning the Supporters Shield. He added the highest point total in MLS history (74).

Miami collected 74 points with 32 wins, 8 draws and 4 losses. Luis Suarez And Lionel Messi They each scored 21 goals in a memorable season.

Atlanta was given just a 10% chance of advancing to the MLS Cup semifinals after completing the first round against Montreal FC.

Those odds increased as Miami won the first game of its three-game first-round series with a 2-1 victory at South Florida.

The formality of a second victory was expected to follow as Messi en route to the MLS Cup, North America’s top championship.

But Atlanta won the decisive second game Saturday night in South Beach, and the game didn’t end well for Miami’s expensively assembled all-star group.

Matias Rosas put Miami ahead in the 17th minute, while Jamal Thiare scored twice in three minutes to give Atlanta the lead.

Messi scored the equalizer with 25 minutes left, but Bartosz Slisz’s championship dream ended. David BeckhamThe team that won in the 76th minute.

The result left Miami heartbroken and defeated for the first time in the postseason for Messi, who was expected to deliver North America’s biggest trophy.

Atlanta will face Orlando in the semi-finals, and Miami, which won the Leagues Cup in Messi’s first season, will end the World Cup champions’ second season on a disappointing note.

The result was immediately described as one of the biggest shocks of the contest.

Kevin Egan, host of Apple TV’s MLS 360 broadcast, expressed his disbelief on social media.

“We easily witnessed the biggest upset in MLS history!” HE Published on X.

“Atlanta United had a 10% chance of making the play-offs on Decision Day.

“The lowest team left eliminated Messi and Miami on their home field. What?!?!”

The MLS Cup play-offs will continue with the Conference semi-finals before the Eastern and Western Conference champions meet in the final on December 7.