It’s crazy to think Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are already out of the playoffs. A surreal prospect became reality after the club was ousted from the postseason in the decisive Game 3 of its first round last week against wild card qualifier Atlanta United.

The broadcast of Inter Miami's final game of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs sounded a little different, not just because of the stunned silence at Chase Stadium when Lionel Messi's team crashed out to underdog Atlanta United.

Not yet, but it’s closer than we think. Messi is on the last ride of his legendary career. He is under contract with Inter Miami through 2025. He’ll be 38 years old next June, and hasn’t committed to playing in the next World Cup when he’ll be 39.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami suffered a shock elimination in the first round of the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs on Saturday, losing 3-2 to No. 9 seed Atlanta United on home soil in the best-of-three series decider.

There will be no MLS Cup for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami this year. Atlanta United saw to that with a massive upset, sending the game’s most decorated player and biggest-spending team home earlier than anyone imagined.

Yahoo Sports contributors Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros discuss Atlanta United’s upset over Inter Miami, eliminating Miami and Messi from the playoffs and how it happened. Hear the full conversation on the “The Cooligans” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts,

Inter Miami's record-breaking MLS season came to an unexpected and screeching halt in the first round of the playoffs against Atlanta United. The Herons—who finished the regular season with 74 points,

Lionel Messi is “three times happier” at Inter Miami than he was at Barcelona because he “plays when he wants to”, says Argentina icon Mario Kempes.