Messi failed to score in the first game of the MLS playoffs, but an assist led to a 2-1 win for Inter Miami.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi failed to score in the first MLS playoff game of his storied career, but the greatest player of all time still found a way to lead his club to victory.

Messi assisted Jordi Alba’s 60th-minute goal, Luis Suarez scored in the second minute and Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 2-1 on Friday night to begin their best-of-three first-round series. MLS Cup Playoffs.

The second game will take place on November 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. A third game, if necessary, will return to Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on November 9th.

“We have taken an important step. They were the only team in our area that we couldn’t beat. The fact that it happened now is very good,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said of the win over Atlanta, one of four clubs to beat Miami this season.

At least 150,000 concurrent viewers watched the “Messi Camera”, a live broadcast of Messi exclusively on the MLS and Inter Miami TikTok accounts. The highly anticipated match was also broadcast free worldwide on Apple TV.

Messi entered the match having scored two hat-tricks in the last 10 days: three goals for Argentina in a World Cup qualifier and three goals in 11 minutes for Inter Miami, setting an MLS points record. But he was unable to continue his goal-scoring magic in perhaps the healthiest stage of his career since joining Inter Miami for the first leg of the MLS playoffs.

Messi had nine shots in the match, including four on target, but failed to find the back of the net – partly due to his mistakes and thanks to the stellar defense of Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Messi hit Guzan’s foot in the final minute, Guzan had his first shot on target in the 26th minute, and saw a point-blank shot deflected off Guzan’s left knee in the 72nd minute.

Messi also missed a shot from the right post in the 29th minute, a free kick straight in the 52nd minute, a shot over the net in the 66th minute and missed other late chances in the final 30 minutes.

“If it wasn’t for Brad, the game probably would have ended with a few more goals,” Martino said of the Atlanta goalie.

Messi relied on his two former Barcelona teammates Suarez and Alba to secure the first playoff win in Inter Miami’s four-year franchise history.

Suarez’s goal came from an assist from Diego Gomez after he was set up by Alba, a finalist for the MLS Defender of the Year award.

Alba’s goal, a laser shot off a pass from Messi, completed the scoring after Atlanta’s Saba Lobzhanidze scored in the 39th minute. It was the lift needed for Inter Miami to win, behind two MVP finalists in Messi and Suarez.

“The best left-back in the world,” Suarez said of Alba. “Wherever he is, he will always be the best in his position.”

Inter Miami are seeking their third title since Messi joined the club in July 2023. Messi is also seeking his 47th title for club and country.

Messi and Inter Miami won the League Cup in 2023 and the MLS Supporters’ Shield title for the league’s best finish that season. The club also set an MLS record with 74 points in the regular season.

“Well, I think we are one of the favorites (to win the MLS Cup),” Messi said in an interview with Apple TV and 433 Football, a soccer content company, before the match.

“I think we are a team that has grown and learned to compete and that will compete with anyone. But I think there are also strong teams who will be very difficult opponents and who will not have it easy. But I think other teams respect us as much as we respect them.”

The match was not without disappointment for Inter Miami: 22-year-old defender Ian Frey, who has suffered three anterior cruciate ligament injuries in his career, left the game in the 90th minute due to an apparent injury to his right leg.

“We leave feeling less satisfied than we do for Ian, because we are sad and we understand the trauma he suffered,” Martino said of Frey, without further revealing the nature of his injury.

Inter Miami – Atlanta United: highlights

Messi misses the Atlanta goalkeeper’s knee in the 72nd minute: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta 1

Messi missed a point-blank shot due to a ridiculous save by Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan. In this episode, Messi’s shot was blocked by my Guzan’s left knee.

Messi misses in the 66th minute: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta 1

Lionel Messi chases him, but has not yet found the goal. After a shootout with Luis Suarez, Messi fired a shot from close range, but the ball sailed over the net.

Jordi Alba goal: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta United 1

Inter Miami’s MLS Defender of the Year candidate Jordi Alba struck with his left boot in the 60th minute to put Inter Miami back in the lead 2-1. Alba scored thanks to an assist from Messi, and after the goal they both hugged in celebration.

Lionel Messi misses free kick: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Lionel Messi’s free kick in the 52nd minute went wide of the right side of the goal. After two hat-tricks in the last 10 days, Messi looks a little rusty in this knockout round.

Saba Lobzhanidze goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Atlanta got the decisive goal from their leading scorer as Saba Lobzhanidze fired a left boot past Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender in the 39th minute. We’re tied at Chase Stadium.

Lionel Messi sent off after 29 minutes: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta 0

Almost. Messi fired a shot into the net, but the ball bounced off the right post and he almost couldn’t believe his eyes.

Lionel Messi misses at 26′: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 0

Lionel Messi’s shot on goal was an empathic left boot from Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 26th minute.

Luis Suarez goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 0

Inter Miami is already in the lead thanks to Luis Suarez’s goal in the 2nd minute of the match. The goal came after about the first 1:40 of the MLS MVP candidate’s playing time. Suarez even did a Griddy dance to celebrate the goal, most likely towards his young son in the stands. Suarez scored 20 goals for Inter Miami this season while playing in the MLS, placing him alongside Messi as the team’s leader.

Messi interview for Apple TV

Watch part of Messi’s sit-down interview with Apple TV:

Inter Miami – Atlanta United starting lineups

Here are the starting line-ups for both clubs: It’s no surprise that Messi starts tonight.

Bad Bunny x Lionel Messi exhibition at Chase Stadium at Inter Miami

Adidas collaboration between Bad Bunny and Lionel Messi announced this week was on display outside Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium ahead of today’s game.

How to watch Inter Miami vs Atlanta United free live stream

The match is available for free on Apple TVwho said this may be the most watched match about the history of MLS Season Pass.

TikTok Messi Camera: How to Watch Messi Live on TikTok

@MLS And @InterMiamiCF TikTok accounts will be live streaming Messi during the playoff game. For the first time in TikTok history, one player will be followed throughout a football match.

Messi playing tonight?

Yes, Messi is expected to be in the starting lineup for Inter Miami’s playoff game against Atlanta.

Betting odds for the match Inter Miami and Atlanta United

Here BETMGM Moneyline Odds: Inter Miami (-250); Atlanta (+575); Draw after regulation (+400). The over/under is set at 3.5 goals.

The line has moved significantly since Tuesday, with Inter Miami moving from -210 to -250 and Atlanta falling from +425 to +575.

Messi enters MLS Cup playoffs at his best

Messi’s Copa America ankle injury is long behind him. He looks to be at full strength and perhaps stronger than ever since joining Inter Miami, as evidenced by two hat-tricks in his last two matches played.

Messi was also named one of five MLS MVP finalists on Thursday and is considered the favorite to win the award.

Messi’s marketing machine is also in full force. captain messi debuta superhero toy from Hard Rock International, among other projects the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is pursuing off the field.

Statistics “Inter Miami” – “Atlanta”

What makes this MLS Cup playoff matchup so enticing is that Atlanta is one of four clubs to beat Inter Miami this season.

Messi scored a goal, but Atlanta beat Inter Miami 3–1. May 29. For context, the match took place three days after Inter Miami’s trip to Vancouver, the longest trip in Major League Soccer.

Atlanta also tied Inter Miami 2–2. September 18 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Messi came off the bench and did not score a single goal in a limited match.

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United, MLS Cup Playoff Series

Game two will take place on Saturday, November 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. And a third game, if necessary, will be played on Saturday, November 9 at Chase Stadium.

The winner advances to face the winner between No. 4 Orlando City and No. 5 Charlotte.

MLS Cup Playoff Format

The MLS Cup Playoffs are not a traditional two-game, aggregate-score format. Instead, each MLS Cup Playoffs match is its own opportunity to win. If the score is level after regulation in the first round, both clubs will immediately compete in a penalty shootout.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The best moments of the Inter Miami – Atlanta match: Messi won his first victory in the MLS playoffs