Messi fails to score in MLS playoff opener, but assist leads Inter Miami to 2-1 win

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. Lionel Messi failed to score in the first MLS playoff game of his storied career, but the greatest player of all time still found a way to lead his club to victory.

Messi assisted Jordi Albi in the 60th minute, Luis Suarez scored in the second minute and Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 2-1 on Friday night to open their best-of-three series in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs .

Game 2 is Nov. 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Game 3, if necessary, will return to Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Nov. 9.

At least 150,000 viewers watched the “Messi cam,” a live stream exclusively featuring Messi, on the MLS and Inter Miami TikTok accounts, while the match was broadcast worldwide for free on Apple TV.

Messi entered the match having scored two hat tricks in the last 10 days – three goals for Argentina in a World Cup qualifier and three goals in 11 minutes for Inter Miami to set an MLS scoring record. But his scoring magic from arguably the healthiest stretch of his career since his move to Inter Miami didn’t continue in the first leg of the MLS playoffs.

Messi had nine shots in the match, including four on goal, but was unable to find the back of the net – in part due to his errors and excellent defending by Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Messi shot through the legs of Guzan in the last minute of the match, his first shot on target was saved by Guzan in the 26th minute, and in the 72nd minute he saw a free-kick deflected by Guzan’s left knee.

Messi also missed in the right-hand space in the 29th minute, missed a free-kick in the 52nd minute, shot over the bar in the 66th minute and missed other late chances in the final 30 minutes.

Fortunately, Messi relied on two of his former Barcelona teammates in Suarez and Alba to secure Inter Miami’s first playoff victory in the franchise’s four-year history.

The match was not without disappointment for Inter Miami: Jan Frei, a 22-year-old defender who has suffered three ACL injuries in his career, left the game in the 90th minute with an apparent right leg injury.

Messi and Inter Miami won the MLS Supporters’ Shield for the league’s best finish and set an MLS record with 74 points during the regular season. Messi and Suarez are also MLS MVP finalists.

The win was the first step in Inter Miami’s pursuit of a third title since Messi joined the club in July 2023. Messi is also bidding for his 47th title for club and country in his illustrious career.

“Well, I think we’re one of the favorites (to win the MLS Cup),” Messi said in an interview with Apple TV and 433 Football, a soccer content company, before the match.

“I think we are a team that has grown and learned to compete and will compete with anyone. But I think there are also tough teams who will be very tough opponents and who won’t make it easy. But I think other teams respect us, as we respect them.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the match. Follow live scores and highlights after kick-off:

Messi missed the knee of the Atlanta goalkeeper at 72′: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta 1

Messi was denied from point-blank range thanks to a ridiculous save by Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Messi’s shot was blocked by my Guzan’s left knee in the series.

Messi misses in the 66th minute: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta 1

Lionel Messi follows him, but has yet to find the goal. After some back-and-forth with Luis Suarez, Messi fired a close-range shot that flew over the net.

Jordi Alba’s goal: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta United 1

Inter Miami’s MLS Defender of the Year candidate Jordi Alba struck with his left boot in the 60th minute to give Inter Miami a 2-1 lead again. Alba scored off Messi’s assist and the two hugged in celebration after the goal.

Lionel Messi misses a free kick: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Lionel Messi’s penalty in the 52nd minute went from the right edge of the goal. After two hat-tricks in the last 10 days, Messi looks a bit rusty in this play-off match.

Goal by Saba Lobzhanidze: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Atlanta got the lead from their top scorer when Saba Lobzhanidze fired a left-footed shot past Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender in the 39th minute. We’re tied at Chase Stadium.

Lionel Messi misses the post at 29′: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta 0

almost. Messi shot towards goal, but it ricocheted off the right post almost for the score, which made him despair.

Lionel Messi missed the goal at 26′: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 0

In the 26th minute, Lionel Messi broke into the net with a left shot by Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Luis Suarez goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 0

Inter Miami is already leading thanks to Luis Suarez’s goal in the 2nd minute of the match. The goal came after about the first 1:40 of game time from the MLS MVP candidate. Suarez even did a griddy dance to celebrate the goal, presumably in the direction of his young son in the stands. Suarez has scored 20 goals for Inter Miami in MLS play this season, tying him with Messi for the team lead.

Messi interview Apple TV

Watch part of this sit-down Messi interview with Apple TV:

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United starting lineups

Here are the starting lineups for both clubs: Unsurprisingly, Messi starts tonight.

Bad Bunny x Lionel Messi performance at Chase Stadium Inter Miami

Adidas collaboration between Bad Bunny and Lionel Messi announced this week was shown activated outside Chase Inter Miami Stadium before tonight’s game.

How to watch Inter Miami vs Atlanta United live stream for free.

The match is available for free on Apple TVwho said this could be the most watched match ever in MLS Season Pass history.

Messi TikTok Cam: How to Watch Messi Live on TikTok

The @MLS and @InterMiamiCF TikTok accounts will show Messi live during the playoff game. This is the first time in TikTok history that one player will be followed for an entire football match.

Is Messi playing tonight?

Yes, it is expected that Messi will be in the starting line-up for Inter Miami’s playoff match against Atlanta.

Betting odds for the match Inter Miami – Atlanta United

Here BETMGM money line odds: Inter Miami (-250); Atlanta (+575); Draw after the main (+400). The over/under is set at 3.5 goals.

Starting Tuesday, the line changed significantly, with Inter Miami moving from -210 to -250 and Atlanta falling from +425 to +575.

Messi enters the MLS Cup playoffs the strongest

Messi’s ankle injury at the Copa America is long gone. He looks at full strength and perhaps stronger than ever since joining Inter Miami, as evidenced by two hat-tricks in the last two matches played.

Messi was also named one of five MLS MVP finalists on Thursday, and is considered the favorite to win the award.

Messi’s marketing machine is also in full swing Messi’s captain’s debutsuperhero toy with Hard Rock International, among other projects the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been pursuing off the field.

Statistics of the match “Inter Miami” against “Atlanta”.

What makes this MLS Cup Playoff matchup so enticing is that Atlanta are one of four clubs to beat Inter Miami this season.

Messi scored a goal, but Atlanta beat Inter Miami 3:1 May 29. For context, the match came three days after Inter Miami’s trip to Vancouver, the longest trip in Major League Soccer.

“Atlanta” also drew with “Inter” in Miami – 2:2 On September 18, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Messi came off the bench and did not score a goal in a limited amount.

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United. MLS Cup Playoff Series

Game 2 is Saturday, Nov. 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. And Game 3, if necessary, will be played on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Chase Stadium.

The winner advances to face the winner between No. 4 Orlando City and No. 5 Charlotte.

MLS Cup playoff format

The MLS Cup Playoffs aren’t the traditional two-game, final-score format. Instead, each MLS Cup playoff game is a unique opportunity to win. If the score is tied after the main match in the first round, both clubs will immediately compete in a penalty shoot-out.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inter Miami vs Atlanta Live Update: Messi Playoff Highlights