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.

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 Argentine won't be in MLS forever and his shock early exit from the playoffs is an opportunity to really evaluate 'the Messi effect'

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.

Inter Miami came up short in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs but still made history in the regular season thanks to its talented squad. The Herons amassed 74 points from 34 regular season games to achieve the greatest regular season in MLS history,

Moreira's Crew suffered a similar fate to Inter Miami in the playoffs. As the defending MLS Cup champions and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, Columbus got upset in a 2-0 series sweep by No. 7 New York Red Bulls.

Inter Miami has played Atlanta five times this year, and won just once, 2-1 in the playoff opener at home. Atlanta beat Miami 3-1 back in May, they tied 2-2 in September, and Atlanta stunned Miami on Saturday to force Game 3 with an extra-time game winner by Xande Silva before a crowd of 68,455 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Add Luis Suárez to the frontline alongside eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi and Miami went on to enjoy the best regular season in MLS history in 2024. While Miami's postseason finish remains up in the air, Messi and Co. propelled the south Florida side to greatness in the form of the Supporters' Shield and the MLS single-season points record.

The Herons' Round 1 playoff exit raises questions about their transfer and recruitment strategy over the past season