That’s exactly not what we thought the script would be but it is, indeed, a reality. Inter Miami is officially out of the MLS playoffs after losing a close 3-2 contest in their very third and final fixture against Atlanta United on Saturday night. While many including the Herons themselves aren’t still over this shocking upset, Alexi Lalas is already sprinkling salt on the wounds by taking a brutal jibe at Lionel Messi and Co.

Not to mention that this very cheeky dig comes just days after the USMNT icon had taken a strong stand against Tata Martino and Co.’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup qualification. While that’s something later to discuss, Lalas’ fresh attack on the Florida-based club is as cold as the winters in the Eastern Antarctic Plateau (-144.4°F, in case you wondered; also, yes, the coldest place in the world as well).

Moments after David Beckham-backed club lost their Game 3 against Atlanta United at the Chase Stadium, Lalas took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared a graphic of Inter Miami’s celebratory post of their MLS Supporters’ Shield win. Aside from this, the former USA defender wrote a caption saying, “Congratulations to @InterMiamiCF on the 2024 @MLS Supporters’ Shield.”

Savage, brutal, cheeky; call it whatever but we hope you get the message. Of course, Lalas has joked about Miami’s shocking exit from the playoffs by mocking them over their recent silverware triumph. Given that the Fort Lauderdale side had set their sights on the MLS Cup, they sadly failed, compelling Alexi to remind Miami that they at least have the Supporters’ Shield to celebrate.

Matias Rojas gave the Florida-based club the lead within 17 minutes, but Atlanta United quickly responded, first equalizing and then taking the lead just minutes later with a brace from Jamal Thiare. After the hour mark, Lionel Messi scored to level the score, reigniting hopes of a comeback for Inter Miami. However, in the 76th minute, Bartosz Slisz netted the decisive goal for Atlanta. Rob Valentino’s side held off any further threats, and the match ended with the visitors securing the win after the final whistle.

Already, Miami and its supporters are reeling from such a painful night as he anyway decided to fire his shots—something which, he ain’t done it the first time.

Alexi Lalas slammed Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup qualification process!

With the tournament being hosted by the USA, one spot was reserved for a host team, and Lionel Messi’s side was chosen to represent them. This decision was announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who attributed their selection to an exceptional MLS season in which they amassed a record-breaking 74 points.

However, Alexi Lalas has expressed doubts about the fairness of this qualification process. In a recent comment, he remarked, “Anytime you see a headline saying Messi and Inter Miami qualified, they qualified in the mind of Gianni Infantino & FIFA.” He went on to criticize the lack of a clear qualification process, stating, “There was no qualifying process laid out ahead of time.”

Lalas made it clear that he believes this approach is unfair to other teams, emphasizing, “When teams don’t know what they’re ultimately playing for, I think it’s disingenuous to say you qualified for a tournament.”

Regardless, of what Alexi Lalas has to say, it will be fascinating to see how this influence translates into on-field success during the FIFA Club World Cup.