Flying like a falcon, Inter Miami finally crashes back to the ground. Moments ago, the Herons suffered a shocking 1-3 defeat against Atlanta United at their very own Chase Stadium. Even the presence of Lionel Messi couldn’t help Tata Martino and Co. more than securing a consolation goal as they failed to maintain their undefeated record. In fact, with this defeat, the Argentinian superstar faced a rare setback, one he hadn’t experienced in the past three years.

Today’s match apparently marks the first time Messi has lost a match in which he scored. Interestingly, the last time it happened was in the 2022 World Cup, when Argentina endured a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the group stage. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, the last instance of such a loss was during his time in Barcelona, when his beloved side fell 1-2 to Celta Vigo in May 2021.

More surprisingly, it’s quite shocking to believe that this never happened during his two-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain. But fast forward three years, and Messi failed to avoid this record at Fort Lauderdale. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good for Miami at the office. After trailing by a narrow score in the first half, Atlanta doubled their lead during the hour mark. However, minutes later, Messi ignited the hope of a comeback with his brilliant bottom-right corner strike out of the box.

However, that fell short as the visitors added a third to seal their win. Ironically, Tata Martino had rested Messi alongside Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez for this clash, as the trio didn’t travel to the previous match against Vancouver, where they secured a 1-2 win in his absence. Today, they failed to capitalize on La Pulga’s presence, which would have benefited them at the table!

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi fail to cement their stay at the top

Even after this defeat, Inter Miami remains at the top with 34 points. A win would have done wonders for them. Consequently, their arch-rivals Cincinnati, who are just a point behind them, also endured a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Nashville. If Lionel Messi and Co. had showcased their magic tonight, they would have enjoyed a three-point lead over the second-placed side.

However, the top two teams are separated by just a point, with Miami having played an additional game compared to their counterparts in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. Adding to their concerns, Messi is preparing for a lengthy domestic break as he gears up for the 2024 Copa America with Argentina. Joining the captain will be another star attacker, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez.

The upcoming games present an opportunity for Inter Miami to compensate for the imminent absence of their star player. Until then, we must allow the dust to settle on Lionel Messi’s rare disappointment.