Lionel Messi’s Major League Soccer season with Inter Miami was full of thrills, but it ended on a somber note after a dramatic exit from the MLS playoffs. Inter Miami’s fans were still soaking in the post-match reflections when Tata Martino, their head coach, voiced his frustrations regarding Atlanta United’s handling of the game. Martino’s complaints seemed to point toward certain refereeing decisions, yet many believe his statements missed the mark. After all, it wasn’t a single call that tipped the scales.

For Miami fans, the team’s exit was a shocking turn of events – with Lionel Messi joining the squad, expectations soared as Inter Miami enjoyed a remarkable mid-season run, fueled by the Argentine’s brilliance. However, the playoffs are a different challenge, and Atlanta United demonstrated just how fierce the competition in MLS can be. When it mattered most, Atlanta’s tenacious approach revealed Miami’s weaknesses. Martino’s response seemed like an effort to divert attention from the match’s reality.

“There was a very clear penalty… Luis Suarez’s shot hit the defender’s hand, but the referee didn’t even check it, and for me, that was decisive,” Martino said in the postgame, on which Alexi Lalas, a prominent MLS commentator, quickly brought Martino back to reality. “This is absolutely legitimate and just and fair for what Atlanta did,” Lalas remarked, adding, “And I don’t want to hear anything from Inter Miami about this goal because this is not the goal that ultimately decided this matchup.” 

Lalas pointed out that Lionel Messi and Inter Miami “had time after time after time to finish this off.” And there was no denying it. Miami wasted their chances, while Atlanta thrived under the pressure of the playoffs. Martino’s remarks didn’t alter the result, nor could they change the narrative of Inter Miami’s season. In the end, Atlanta United’s remarkable victory was a testament to their discipline, determination, and competitive spirit.

The bitter taste of playoff reality

From the very beginning, Martino’s reunion with Lionel Messi brought a wave of excitement and hope to Miami. The pair that once led Barcelona and Argentina was now on a mission to elevate Inter Miami to a dominant force in the league. However, as the playoffs drew near, it became clear that even Messi’s extraordinary talent couldn’t resolve the deeper issues within Miami’s roster.

Atlanta United had to travel to Montreal in a difficult play-in game, then headed down to Florida, only to turn around and face Miami again in front of a roaring home crowd. That’s the kind of endurance required to push through in MLS, and Atlanta demonstrated it to the fullest. As Lalas pointed out, Atlanta’s win was one of the “biggest upsets in Major League Soccer history,”  and it wasn’t solely about strategy or endurance. It was about capitalizing on opportunities. They played until the final whistle scored, and defended their goal, standing firm against the pressure of competing with one of soccer’s all-time greats.

This determination was something Miami couldn’t replicate, despite having “plenty of opportunities to put them away,” as Lalas noted. As Miami processes the defeat, Martino may need to take a hard look at the realities of the MLS, a league known for its unpredictability, intense schedule, and playoff challenges. Relying on Lionel Messi’s moments of magic proved insufficient. While Martino’s frustrations are understandable, the time for Miami to learn from their mistakes and build a more resilient side for next season is now.