It was all lining up to be a season of perfection for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. This season was supposed to be the final feather in Messi’s GOAT cap, and heading into the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs,

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.

Jamal Thiaré scored twice, Bartosz Slisz’s header in the 76th minute was the winner, and Atlanta got a 3-2 win to eliminate the league's Supporters Shield winners.