A frustrated Gerardo Martino admitted Inter Miami fell "too short" after being knocked out in the first round of the MLS playoffs by Atlanta United.

Miami won the first match in the best-of-three series at Chase Stadium, but subsequently lost the next two, being beaten 3-2 in the decider on Saturday.

Bartosz Slisz netted the winner in the 76th minute, but the hosts struggled to find an equaliser that would have forced penalties, with Brad Guzen in inspired form as he thwarted their attack.

It is arguably one of the biggest upsets in playoffs history, with Miami the favourites to lift the MLS Cup after a record-breaking regular season saw them claim 74 points in the Eastern Conference.

"In this last part of the year, we get used to achieving the objectives that we set for ourselves, and we have not been able to achieve the most important one," Martino told reporters.

"If you think about where we were in November last year, obviously there is progress as far as the club is concerned, not just the team.

"If you think about the expectations we had for this playoff, obviously we have fallen too short."

While the loss has come as an obvious shock, Atlanta have actually now won three matches against Miami this season.

Jamal Thiare scored two goals in two minutes to give the Five Stripes the lead in the first half, having also hit the post moments before Miami had opened the scoring.

They face another trip to Florida to face Orlando City in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and the forward is excited to see what else Atlanta can do.

"It took everyone's special amount of running and giving everything that they got," said Thiare. "Everyone's held each other accountable, fighting when we're basically backs against the wall.

"We didn't want to finish the season like this, so it was a good effort in training, but it was really something that the group discovered along the lines of the last few games. And something great is igniting from all of this."

Atlanta United stunned MLS Cup favourites Inter Miami, coming from behind to win 3-2 and setting up another trip to Florida to face Orlando City in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Bartosz Slisz scored the all-important winner to ensure Atlanta overturned the deficit in the series, having lost their first trip to Chase Stadium.

The hosts started brightly, with Matias Rojas sharply turning in the rebound of Lionel Messi's saved shot moments after Jamal Thiare was denied by the post.

However, the Senegalese striker would soon turn things around with two goals in two minutes – he powered his first shot past Drake Callender after some chaos in the box and was left with a simple tap-in from close range for his second.

Diego Gomez was denied an equaliser by VAR shortly after, having drifted offside before receiving Luis Suarez's pass, while Brad Guzen made a string of fine saves to keep Atlanta's lead intact.

He could not keep them out forever though, with Messi peeling away at the back post to nod in an equaliser in the 65th minute.

It was Slisz who would have the last say though, leaping high to power a header past Callender against the run of play, with Atlanta causing the biggest upset of the playoffs so far.

Data Debrief: One for the books

Miami were classed as the favourites to win the MLS Cup this year, but their defeat to Atlanta maybe should not be too big of a surprise, with this their third loss against them this season.

The Five Stripes ended a six-match winless run on the road in the play-offs (D1 L5), but have still conceded multiple goals in each of their last six such games. 

Slisz is not known for his goalscoring, but he stepped up at the right time for Atlanta - it was just his second goal in MLS this season, and his first since May 18.

Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino gave an update on the availability of midfielder Sergio Busquets ahead of their playoff decider against Atlanta United at Chase Stadium.

The Spanish midfielder missed their 2-1 defeat in Game 2, which levelled the series and put the Eastern Conference winners potentially a game away from elimination.

"He had a problem because of a knock in the last game and he had the beginnings of pneumonia, he had a fever and did not train all week, today he was better," Martino told a press conference.

Thinking ahead to the final game, Martino stressed that his players have played through pressurised games before and that they will be able to deal with the situation.

"We have the advantage of hierarchy in the team with many players who have been through much more difficult situations than this," Martino said. 

Interim Atlanta United coach Rob Valentino, meanwhile, was clear that his team were concentrating on themselves.

"It's been the theme of our team that we don't control that, so whatever the outside is saying, it's not our focus. Our focus is on ourselves," he told a press conference.

"We have our own internal pressure individually, collectively as a team, and that's the pressure we put on ourselves to perform everyday.

"We're in a great position to be in the playoffs and now we're hoping that with one game left, we've got more after that."

The deciding game will be played at Chase Stadium, where Inter Miami are unbeaten in 11 matches, while they also beat Atlanta 2-1 in Game 1 of their best-of-three series.

But Valentino was unbothered by that, or Lionel Messi's impressive record on home turf, saying: "Nothing changes in terms of where the venue is.

"Messi is fantastic, there is no slander on my end, he's a fantastic player.

"That doesn't change for the venue, we have to have a really good start, be really aware of where he's at among other players."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Who else? Messi scored 20 goals in the regular season in MLS, contributing another 10 assists. 

The 37-year-old has recorded at least one goal contribution in 12 of his last 13 matches in all competitions at Chase Stadium, including in each of his last six.

Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze

Lobjanidze is Atlanta United's top scorer in MLS this season, with nine goals in the regular season and one in the first game of the series against Inter Miami.

The Georgian equalised for his team at Chase Stadium late last month in their 2-1 defeat, while he has also supplied seven assists over the course of the 2024 season.

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

Inter Miami are unbeaten in 11 straight home matches in all competitions (W9 D2) following a 3-1 defeat to Atlanta in May. They have also outscored opponents, 30-14, in those matches.

Atlanta, meanwhile, are winless in their last six away playoff matches (D1 L5), though they advanced on penalties in its lone draw in that time, a 2-2 draw at Montreal in this year’s Wild Card Round.

However, they will have hope of stopping Messi playing a starring role in proceedings. The Five Stripes' 2-1 win in Game 2 was the 21st MLS match (regular season and playoffs) Messi has played in 2024 but just the second defeat. The other loss also came at the hands of Valentino's side.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter Miami – 63.3%

Draw – 19.5%

Atlanta United – 17.2%

Lionel Messi endured an outing to forget as Inter Miami suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat at Atlanta United, sending their MLS Cup Playoff tie to a deciding third game.

Having recorded a 2-1 victory at home in Game 1, the Supporters’ Shield winners had a chance to book their place in the Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday.

However, they were punished for a lacklustre performance at Mercedez-Benz Stadium, only recording two shots on target throughout the match.

The Herons did take a 40th-minute lead when David Martinez scored a bizarre opener, dinking his shot into an empty net following a slip from Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

However, Derrick Williams headed a 58th-minute equaliser and Atlanta struck the decisive blow four minutes into stoppage time, Xande Silva coming off the bench to fire home from the edge of the box and prevent a penalty shoot-out.

The teams will now reconvene for a third game next week, with Messi and Miami requiring a home win to keep their campaign alive.

New York City also forced a decider in their series against FC Cincinnati, clinching a 3-1 home victory with goals from Alonso Martinez, Thiago Martins and Santiago Rodriguez.

Martinez put them ahead with a cool finish midway through the first half, with Martins adding a deserved second just before the interval, taking advantage of some poor defending to score with a free header at the far post.

Cincinnati were given hope of a comeback when Luca Orellano curled a wonderful strike into the top-left corner, but Rodriguez converted a stoppage-time penalty to ensure NYCFC kept the tie alive.

In the last of Saturday’s games, Minnesota United recorded a second penalty shoot-out win over Real Salt Lake in the space of four days to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Joseph Rosales’ placed effort gave Minnesota a second-half lead just four minutes after Brayan Vera’s deflected strike was disallowed for an offside in the build-up at the other end. 

Emeka Eneli prodded home 15 minutes from time to take the game to spot-kicks, but Real Salt Lake came up short from 12 yards once again, failing to score with three straight kicks in a 3-1 loss.

Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair repelled efforts from Diogo Goncalves and Diego Luna either side of Matt Crooks blazing over the top, allowing Jeong Sang-bin to score the decisive kick for the Loons, who will face the LA Galaxy in the next round.

Rob Valentino is confident Atlanta United can overcome their one-goal deficit against the “superstars” of Inter Miami in Game 2 of their best-of-three series in the MLS playoffs.

The Five Stripes lost their opening game of the postseason 2-1, with Jordi Alba’s long-range stunner sealing the triumph for Inter Miami, who will look to book their place in the next round with a victory.

But ahead of the encounter at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, interim head coach Valentino was excited to welcome the Herons to Georgia, believing his side are not out of the fight just yet.

“I’m already buzzing about what that place is going to be like,” Valentino said.

“My message to the team was that these people are waiting to cheer for you, you’ve been three on the road to finish into the playoffs and you can feel the buzz getting back for them.

“Even all the people coming to see [Lionel] Messi, no problem. I love it, because eventually, like last time when things were going well, they were also cheering [for us].

“I get it, come to see the superstars, come and see our team fight and compete but these boys aren’t done yet.”

Inter Miami, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their win from Game 1, a game that their dominance was not reflected by the scoreline.

The Herons managed 22 shots, 12 of which were on target, compared to Atlanta’s eight shots with only two on Drake Callender’s goal.

Gerardo Martino’s side were met with the imposing figure of Brad Guzan, who made nine saves during the contest.

The Miami head coach believes had it not been for the veteran shot stopper, the game could have been out of site.

“It was a match where what I liked the most was the control we had on the field for almost the entire game,” Martino said.

“We didn’t make many mistakes that would allow the opponent to break out into space. We had five clear chances in the first half, and one of them came very close to the post.

“We were patient. I believe that if it weren’t for Brad (Guzan)’s performance, the match should have ended with a clear difference.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi carried his fine form into the postseason, notching the assist for Alba’s winning goal against the Five Stripes in Game 1.

Across the Leagues Cup, US Open Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup Playoffs, he has appeared in 10 knockout round matches for Inter Miami (single and multi-leg) and contributed to at least one goal in all of them (nine goals, five assists).

Atlanta United - Pedro Amador

Amador set up Saba Lobjanidze for Atlanta’s only goal in Game 1 on Friday, his sixth assist for the Five Stripes in the regular season and playoffs since debuting for the club in late August.

Only Alba (nine) and Riqui Puig (seven) have more assists than Amador in that time (including the playoffs).

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

Inter Miami’s victory over Atlanta in Game 1 was the club’s 23rd MLS win of the campaign (regular season and playoffs). The only two teams in the post-shootout era with more wins in a single season, including playoffs, were Atlanta United (25) and the New York Red Bulls (24).

However, Atlanta are unbeaten in their last five home matches against Inter Miami (W4 D1), though Miami’s 2-2 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 18 ended a four-match home winning streak for the Five Stripes.

The Herons’ only-ever win at Atlanta was a 2-1 victory in September 2020, but they will have confidence of adding another on enemy territory.

Atlanta have won only four of their last 18 home matches in all competitions (D6 L8) dating back to April, however. The Five Stripes won just six regular-season home matches in 2024, their fewest in a full regular season in club history (excluding the shortened 2020 season).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 27.8%

Draw – 24.1%

Inter Miami – 48.1%

Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino believes Lionel Messi is still "the best in the world", despite backing Vinicius Junior to scoop the Ballon d'Or. 

Messi claimed the award for a record-extending eighth time last year after leading Argentina to their third World Cup crown in Qatar during the 2022-23 voting period, but he has not been nominated this year.

But that saw the Inter Miami boss question the criteria for the Ballon d'Or this time around, having seen first-hand the 37-year-old's impact in the MLS this season. 

Messi led the Herons to a record points haul in the Eastern Conference, while also notching 20 goals and 10 assists in 19 league games. 

The Argentine recorded another assist in Miami's 2-1 win over Atlanta United in the first game of their best-of-three series in the playoffs. 

He now has a division-high 31 goal involvements so far this term, though five players are only one behind him, including team-mate Luis Suarez. 

Messi also broke the record for the most assists in a single MLS game with five assists, while also scoring a brace to clinch the Supporters' Shield, the 46th trophy of his career. 

However, Martino acknowledged the impressive season Vinicius had at Real Madrid, with the Brazilian starring in Los Blancos' LaLiga and Champions League successes.

Vinicius scored 24 goals and added 11 assists in all competitions last term, and Martino said he would be a worthy winner of football's most prestigious individual accolade.

"It [the Ballon d'Or] has never been something that caught my attention, nor was it clear to me whether the award is for the best in the world or of the year," Martino said.

"Vinicius Junior probably has the merit [of being the best last season], although if you ask me who is the best right now, it's Messi."

However, reports ahead of the ceremony suggested Madrid cancelled plans to attend after learning Vinicius had not won the award. 

It is believed that Manchester City's Rodri has emerged victorious after winning the Premier League title and leading Spain to the European Championship crown. 

Should the 28-year-old win the trophy, he would become the first Spaniard to win the award since Barcelona's Luis Suarez back in 1960. 

Rodri would also be the first player to win the Ballon d'Or while playing for an English club since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, when he was turning out for Manchester United.

Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba handed Inter Miami a winning start to their MLS playoff campaign, with their goals helping down Atlanta United 2-1 at the Chase Stadium. 

After already winning the Supporters' Shield and setting a new MLS single-season points record, the Herons took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series ahead of Game Two.

The hosts needed just over a minute to take the lead when Diego Gomez picked out Suarez, who prodded the ball beyond Brad Guzan early on. 

David Martinez then saw his effort strike the woodwork, but Miami were unable to make their sustained spell of pressure count as visiting forward Saba Lobjanidze levelled the contest in the 39th minute. 

But the hosts restored their advantage just before the hour-mark when Lionel Messi picked out Alba, who struck a fierce effort from distance which proved to be the winner. 

Miami should have had a more comfortable advantage, but were met with the imposing figure of Guzan, who made nine saves during the contest to keep the hosts at bay.

Data Debrief: Welcome to Miami

Having topped the Eastern Conference with 74 points, Miami are expected to reach the showpiece match, and their display proved why they were one of the best teams in the MLS during the regular season. 

The hosts ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 3.38 from their 22 shots, 12 of which were on target and 14 of their efforts were inside the Atlanta box. 

And though not getting himself on the scoresheet, Messi once again showcased his class. The Argentine registered a team-high 1.26 xG to Inter Miami's total, while also recording more shots on target (five), more touches in the opposition box (13) and creating more chances (five) than anyone on the pitch. 

Rob Valentino is delighted Atlanta United have hit their stride in time for the MLS playoffs and is relishing their Best-of-3 Round One clash with Inter Miami at Chase Stadium.

The Five Stripes overturned the odds on Decision Day to snag a place in the Eastern Conference Wild Card round.

They took a 2-0 lead over CF Montreal before former player Josef Martinez pegged them back to force spot-kicks. Brad Guzan saved one, setting up Saba Lobjanidze to score the winner.

A tough test now awaits them in Miami on Friday, but Valentino is sure they can come up with a plan to get the better of Lionel Messi and co.

"We have worked so hard this season, every training, every game," he said. "Now we're starting to succeed, and it's the best timing in the end of the season to show that. Three in a row is very good! Let's continue!

"I think every time a team plays them, [how to stop Messi is] the question that is asked, right? He's arguably the best player that's ever played.

"We've faced him a few times and we know obviously his qualities. But they've got other players that are good, too. So there has to be a focus on him and also these teammates around him.

"We'll just show up when the game is there, and we'll go to win it."

Meanwhile, Miami, who are playing their first home playoff game, finished the regular season in record-breaking fashion, with their 6-2 victory over New England Revolution taking them to 74 points.

The Supporters' Shield winners are on an 11-match unbeaten streak coming into this match, and head coach Gerardo Martino believes their strong finish will benefit them in the playoffs.

"[The record points total] gives our team an injection of confidence," said Martino.

"These 74 points is not something we aimed for at the start of the year, but as soon as it was within reach, we tried to get it and we did it. It's a triumph for the whole Inter Miami family."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi was involved in 1.82 direct goal contributions per 90 minutes this season, his highest rate in a league season in over a decade.

His 11-minute hat-trick off the bench against New England last time out took him to 20 goals for the campaign, adding to his 10 assists, and he is bound to be a threat in the playoffs.

Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze

Lobjanidze has come up with big goals throughout the season for Atlanta, but none more so than his match-winning penalty against Montreal on Tuesday.

Though that does not count towards his nine-goal haul for the season, he was still a threat in the Wild Card match, having three shots, two of which were on target, while he also had the most touches in the box among his team-mates (eight).

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

After a resounding end to the season, Miami are unsurprisingly favourites to win the first of the Best-of-3 series, but they have stumbled when coming up against Atlanta as of late, drawing their most recent meeting after two straight defeats.

They lost just twice at Chase Stadium in the regular season (W11 D4), with the most recent of those a 3-1 defeat to the Five Stripes back in May, though they are unbeaten in their eight such matches since.

It is just the second time that Miami have made the playoffs – their only previous playoff match was a 3-0 defeat on the road at New York City FC in Round One in 2022.

Meanwhile, Atlanta are making their fifth appearance in the playoffs. They won the MLS Cup back in 2018, but in their two most recent appearances in the postseason, they have failed to get past Round One, losing to Columbus Crew.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter Miami – 62.7%

Draw – 19.8%

Atlanta United – 17.5%

Atlanta United will play Inter Miami in the MLS playoffs after edging past CF Montreal on penalties in an enthralling encounter at the Stade Saputo. 

Atlanta won only their second away playoff game in club history and the first since 2018. They will start a best-of-three series on Friday against Lionel Messi's Miami. 

The visitors took the lead in the 29th minute when Brooks Lennon nodded Pedro Amador's cross beyond Jonathan Sirois, before Stian Gregersen doubled their tally a minute before the interval. 

But Montreal responded after the break, as Josef Martinez reduced the deficit just after the hour-mark against his former employers.

Martinez notched his second, this time from the penalty spot, in the 89th minute after Lennon was brought down by Kwadwo Opoku, with the Venezuelan scoring his eighth goal in six games. 

The winner would be decided on penalties, as Tom Pearce's spot-kick proved decisive with his effort saved by Brad Guzan. That left Saba Lobjanidze to send Atlanta through. 

Data Debrief: No Five Stripes joy for Martinez

It proved to be a gut-wrenching end to the season for Montreal, having ended the contest with more shots (15), more shots on target (seven) and a higher expected goals (xG) tally (1.57) than Atlanta. 

It was even more heartbreaking for Martinez, who almost dealt his former side a hammer blow to their hopes of continuing in the post-season. 

He ended the encounter by having all of Montreal's shots on target, while also registering the most touches in the opposition box (nine) than any other player on the pitch. 

Lionel Messi scored an 11-minute hat-trick as Inter Miami beat the New England Revolution 6-2 to ensure an MLS regular-season points total of 74.

Miami will head into the playoffs on the back of three straight victories after rounding out their regular-season campaign in emphatic fashion on Saturday.

Messi came on from the bench to plunder his rapid-fire hat-trick between the 78th and 89th minutes at Chase Stadium, where Miami fell behind to Luca Langoni's second-minute effort.

Dylan Borrero put the Revolution, who set the previous record points tally of 73 in 2021, 2-0 up, but two goals in as many minutes from Luis Suarez dragged Miami level.

Miami took control after the break, Messi and Jordi Alba combining to tee up Benja Cremaschi to make it 3-2.

It was the Messi show from then on. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner drilled in from the edge of the area after interplay with Suarez, before coolly slotting home after latching onto Jordi Alba's throughball.

His third was an immaculate team goal, with Suarez volleying it across for Messi to tuck into a gaping net and ensure Miami celebrated a record-breaking season in style.

Data Debrief: First of a kind

It was Messi's first MLS hat-trick, and it took him to 20 goals in the competition in 2024. Suarez also finished the regular season with 20 strikes to his name.

That makes Miami the first team in MLS history to have two players score at least 20 goals each during a regular season.

Miami have won 22 games this season, drawing eight and losing just four. They will face either CF Montreal or Atlanta United in the first round of the playoffs.

Lionel Messi has not given any thought to his retirement, though the Argentina legend has again refused to commit to playing at the 2026 World Cup.

One day before he celebrated the 20th anniversary of his senior debut for Barcelona, Messi recorded five goal involvements (three goals, two assists) in Argentina's 6-0 rout of Bolivia on Tuesday.

Messi has enjoyed a fantastic season for MLS Supporters' Shield winners Inter Miami, too, scoring 17 league goals and adding 10 assists despite only starting 15 matches.

While the forward has shown no signs of slowing down since joining the Herons last year, his decision to turn his back on Europe led many to suggest the end of his career was near.

He has yet to make any decision on his long-term future, however, and is simply focused on enjoying his football in the moment.

Speaking at the Marca America Award night in Miami, Messi said: "Coming to Inter Miami does not mean I will retire anytime soon, I still have more years to play.

"In the moment, we will see. I don't like to accelerate time or look ahead. I try to enjoy every day. I hope I can keep playing at this level to feel good and be happy. 

"When I get to do what I love, I am happy. I value that more than reaching 2026. I haven't set a goal to reach the World Cup, but more so to live day-to-day and be well.

"I am still hungry for titles even though I am a bit older and my family keeps growing. When I feel their support, I am unstoppable."

Messi could lead Miami to a historic achievement this weekend as they end their 2024 regular-season campaign at home to the New England Revolution.

A victory would take Gerardo Martino's team to 74 points, surpassing the single-season record of 73 set by New England in 2021.

Inter Miami are in a "perfect" position to etch their names into MLS history when they host the New England Revolution on Saturday, with a single-season points record within reach.

That is the view of defender Ian Fray, after Gerardo Martino's men wrapped up the Supporters' Shield – and home advantage for the playoffs – early.

Miami have 71 points with one game of the regular season remaining, and a victory would see them surpass the Revs' all-time high of 73 points from the 2021 campaign. 

Fray feels playing at Chase Stadium can help Miami get over the line, saying: "Having home-field advantage is amazing, especially with our fans. It's the perfect situation for us."

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were both substitutes for Miami's last game – a late 1-0 win at Toronto FC – as Martino opted to rest the forward duo.

"It was logical that after two complete games, as most of them had played, we would make a rotation," he said. 

"We were able to meet the two objectives, for the players to have some rest and to win the game, which is what we wanted. We wanted to be able to achieve the points record."

Opponents New England are playing merely to defend their 2021 honour, sitting some nine points adrift of the playoff picture, 14th in the Eastern Conference standings.

Head coach Caleb Porter, though, has already turned his attention towards what comes next after they missed the postseason for just the second time in six years.

"It's really important, when we're making corrections next year and in the offseason, that we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater," he said. 

"That's the tendency in the offseason when you end a season like this. You have to take a deep dive into what went wrong.

"I have to look at myself, I have to coach better, I have to figure out what I can do better. It starts with me."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

The favourite to be named this year's MLS MVP, Messi enters the final match of the regular season averaging 1.98 goal contributions per 90 minutes. 

Only one player in MLS history has averaged more than 1.40 goal contributions per 90 over a full season before: Carlos Vela (1.62) in 2019 (minimum 1000 minutes played).

New England Revolution – Aljaz Ivacic

New England's 4-0 loss at the Columbus Crew last Saturday was the eighth time this season that the Revs have lost a match by at least three goals. That equals the most three-goal defeats by a team in a single season in MLS history, done four times before.

If they are to avoid making unwanted history against a rampant Miami team, they will need Ivacic to be on top form, though his save percentage of 66% is only the 20th-best figure among the 33 goalkeepers to play 10 MLS matches this year.

MATCH PREDICTION – INTER MIAMI WIN

None of the seven all-time meetings between Miami and New England have ended in draws. 

The sides split the season series in each of the previous three years, with both sides winning once in each campaign, while Miami won in New England, 4-1, on April 27 this year.

Miami, on 71 points entering the final day of the season, can break New England's single-season MLS points record of 73 with a win. A victory would also be Miami's 22nd this season, equalling the most in a single season in league history.

New England have lost five straight away matches, including a 4-0 loss to the Crew on Saturday. 

The Revs have been outscored 15-1 in those games, so the chances of them denying Miami a slice of history appear slim.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter Miami – 67.1%

New England Revolution – 14.9%

Draw – 18.1%

Precisely 20 years ago, the player many consider to be the greatest of all time made his senior debut.

At the age of 17, Lionel Messi made his first appearance in LaLiga on October 16, 2004, replacing goalscorer Deco from the bench in Barcelona's 1-0 win at Espanyol. He was, at the time, the club's youngest player to feature in an official game.

The rest, as they say, is history – 846 goals, eight Ballons d'Or and 43 senior team honours later, Messi has certainly cemented his place among the all-time greats.

On the 20th anniversary of his first professional outing, we celebrate the Argentine maestro by delving into the best facts and figures of his glittering career.

From prodigy to club legend

Messi's crowning achievement may have come on the international stage, but it was at Barcelona where he became a great, after joining their famed academy aged 13.

By the time of his 2021 departure, Messi had cemented himself as Barca's all-time leader for appearances (766) and starts (687) in all competitions, scoring an incredible 664 goals for the Blaugrana – comfortably ahead of Cesar Rodriguez's 232, previously recognised as the club record.

Messi averaged a goal every 94 minutes during his 17-year stint in the club's senior team, while his 260 assists were some 123 more than Xavi (137), who boasts the second-best figure since Opta records began.

All in all, Messi directly contributed to a staggering 924 goals while at Barca. The next-best figure by a single player in that time belongs to Luis Suarez, who managed 295 (198 goals, 97 assists).

The Argentine lifted 35 trophies – including LaLiga 10 times and the Champions League on four occasions – during his time at Camp Nou, also a record tally for any Barca player.

No love in Paris

When financial troubles left Barca unable to renew Messi's contract ahead of the 2021-22 season, he bid a tearful farewell to his adopted home and joined French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi did contribute to two Ligue 1 title wins in as many seasons with the club, yet his time in Paris was not altogether happy, with early Champions League exits at the hands of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich giving way to fan protests.

Messi did win his seventh Ballon d'Or during his debut campaign in France, though, partly as a result of Argentina's 2021 Copa America triumph.

His 26 league appearances in 2021-22 were his fewest in any league campaign since 2006-07, when he was still a teenager, and he was limited to just six goals and nine assists in the French top flight.

Sixteen goals and as many assists followed in 2022-23, and through his two years in Ligue 1, only Kylian Mbappe (79) and Wissam Ben Yedder (55) bettered his overall tally of 55 goal involvements in the competition.

To the Sunshine State

A fractious relationship with PSG's fans and a lack of continental success made Messi's stay in France unhappy, and in 2023 he went Stateside, joining David Beckham-owned MLS franchise Inter Miami.

Success was immediate as Messi fired the Herons to Leagues Cup glory in August 2023. By the end of that particular campaign, Messi's 10 goals in seven matches put him third in Inter Miami's all-time goalscoring charts without even appearing in a league game.

The 2024 Supporters' Shield followed last month, and Messi is the hot favourite to be named MLS MVP after a brilliant individual campaign, the highlights of which include a 10-match run with a goal involvement to start the season and five assists in May's 6-2 rout of the New York Red Bulls, a game in which he also scored.

No player had previously had six goal involvements in an MLS game, or teed up five goals for team-mates in a single match, nor had Messi previously achieved either feat for club and country.

Only Luciano Acosta (30), Evander (29), Cucho Hernandez, Denis Bouanga and Christian Benteke (all 28) have bettered his 27 direct goal involvements in regular-season play this year. The most impressive part? Messi has only started 15 games. 

International glory

It now seems unthinkable to imagine Messi being maligned by Argentina fans, but that was the case for the majority of his career as he struggled to live up to Diego Maradona's achievements in the Albiceleste shirt.

However, back-to-back Copa America successes in 2021 and 2024, coming either side of a remarkable run to World Cup glory in 2022, have altered that perception for good.

Messi was named Player of the Tournament and scooped the Golden Boot as Argentina ended their 18-year wait for silverware at the 2021 Copa, but it was Qatar 2022 that saw him really cement his legacy.

Only Poland – in Argentina's third group game – prevented Messi from scoring as he ended the tournament with seven goals and three assists, including two strikes and a successful spot-kick in the shoot-out win over France in the final.

Only Gerd Muller (10 goals, three assists in 1970), Just Fontaine (13 goals in 1958) and Sandor Kocsis (11 goals in 1954) have ever bettered that figure at a single World Cup.

His 21 overall goal contributions at the World Cup are the most in tournament history, while he is the only player to win the Golden Ball award at two separate editions – doing so in 2014 and 2022.

This year's Copa America gave Messi a chance to further underline his international legacy, and though he was withdrawn due to injury in the final, Argentina got the job done against Colombia. 

Messi opted against calling it quits there, though, and Tuesday's hat-trick against Bolivia saw him equal Cristiano Ronaldo's record for the most trebles in international football, with 10. 

His tally of 112 Argentina goals puts him some way adrift of Ronaldo's tally of 133 for Portugal, though his recent run of international trophies more than makes up for it. 

Lionel Messi is one of 23 players to be nominated for the 2024 MLS MVP award, being joined on the shortlist by Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez.

Messi is considered the leading candidate to win the league's top individual prize after scoring 17 goals and contributing 10 assists in just 18 regular-season matches this year.

The Argentina legend has missed large chunks of the campaign through injury, recently sitting out two months with an ankle problem he sustained while representing his country in the Copa America final.

Yet only four players – D.C. United's Christian Benteke (23), Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga, the Columbus Crew's Cucho Hernandez (both 19) and Suarez (18) – have outscored him this term, and he also sits joint-eighth in the assist charts.

Suarez is the other Miami player to be nominated for the prize, having put himself in Golden Boot contention in his first season in the United States.

The Uruguayan's 18 league goals have come from chances with a total expected goals (xG) value of 12.04, giving him an overperformance of 5.96.

Only New York City's Alonso Martinez (6.13, 16 goals from 9.87 xG) and Messi (6.08, 17 from 10.92 xG) have overperformed their underlying figures by a greater margin.

Suarez is also up for the league's Newcomer of the Year award, alongside players including Hugo Lloris of LAFC and the Galaxy's leading scorer Gabriel Pec.

Last season's MVP, FC Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta, is in the running for the top prize once more after providing more direct goal involvements (30, 14 goals, 16 assists) than any other player in the league.

With Miami winning the Supporters' Shield and remaining on course to break the league's single-season points record (73 by the 2021 New England Revolution), head coach Gerardo Martino has been nominated for the Coach of the Year award.

The Colorado Rapids' Chris Armas, Greg Vanney of the LA Galaxy and the Columbus Crew's Wilfried Nancy are considered among the other leading contenders.

Leonardo Campana scored the winner in stoppage time to keep Inter Miami on course to beat the regular-season points record in MLS as they defeated Toronto 1-0.

With Miami having secured the Supporters' Shield by beating the Columbus Crew in midweek, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were benched for Saturday's trip north of the border.

But the duo came on to help Gerardo Martino's team to a victory that moved them up to 71 points with one game remaining. 

The points record of 73 was set by the New England Revolution in 2021, and it is the Revs who visit Miami in the final regular-season game later in October.

Toronto got off to the better start as Kobe Franklin latched onto the end of Jonathan Osario's cross to shoot from a tight angle but saw his effort saved.

Despite further chances for Richie Laryea and Prince Osei Owusu, Toronto struggled to find a breakthrough, and substitute Suarez proved decisive as he delivered a first-time cross into the centre of the box, which Campana controlled and duly fired home a 93rd-minute winner.

The defeat dealt Toronto a blow to their ambitions of obtaining a playoff spot this season, opening the door for the Philadelphia Union, D.C. United and Nashville SC behind them in the Eastern Conference.

Data Debrief: Miami's stopping power

For Miami, the focus on adding an MLS record to their first Supporters' Shield triumph has seemingly helped keep them going this term. They have scored 15 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half this season; only the Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers have scored more such goals in the league in 2024.

On the other hand, Toronto have conceded 23 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half - no team has conceded more in MLS this term.

Toronto have taken just one point from the last 15 on offer, and their slump has come at the worst possible time.