Two free kicks by Messi in the final minutes hit the wall of Atlanta defenders, and time eventually ran out on soccer’s most decorated player and his team.

Inter Miami practiced on Friday thinking there was no way Sergio Busquets was going to play in its win-or-else playoff match against Atlanta United. Busquets — who coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said was ruled out for Saturday's game — received medical clearance on Friday afternoon to play and is being listed as questionable.

A historic season for Inter Miami ended in a historic upset.  Messi scored his first postseason goal with a header in the 65th minute to tie the match at 2, but Inter Miami suffered a 3-2 loss in the deciding third game of their first-round series on Saturday night at Chase Stadium.

Supporters' Shield winners Inter Miami and superstar Lionel Messi did not expect to have their backs against the wall so early in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs, in a winner-take-all matchup with wild card winners Atlanta United.

Busquets was struck somewhere around his midsection in Game 1 of the best-of-three series and developed pneumonia-like symptoms. He didn't play in Game 2 last week — a 2-1 Atlanta win — and now Inter Miami must win at least once without him just to extend its season and reach the second round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Who’s excited for Game 3 between Inter Miami and Atlanta United? Having clinched the Supporters Shield and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup, Lionel Messi and his team are now focused on winning the MLS Cup.