Fireworks shot out from the rafters of Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Saturday night, but there was nothing for the home team to celebrate. When the final whistle blew in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami had been beaten 3-2 by Atlanta United and eliminated from the MLS playoffs.

Inter Miami may have set an MLS regular-season points record in 2024, but their unbalanced squad was exposed once the gritty postseason got underway.

Inter Miami’s 2024 campaign came to an unexpected end with a first-round elimination in the MLS Playoffs. Despite the early exit, Lionel Messi still has crucial matches ahead. Inter Miami entered the MLS Playoffs with high hopes of reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time in their history.