Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s unbeaten run is OVER as Atlanta United inflict their first defeat in over two months – despite Argentina legend pulling a goal back in 3-1 loss

Not even a goal from Lionel Messi could have stopped Inter Miami from falling victim to a barrage of goals from Atlanta United as the top team in MLS crashed out on Wednesday night.

A brace from winger Saba Lobzhandize opened the scoring at 2-0 for the Five Stripes playing on the road in Fort Lauderdale.

There was brief hope when the Argentine World Cup winner scored a goal in the 62nd minute and The Herons pulled back within one minute.

But eleven minutes later, Atlanta’s Jamal Thiare timed his run perfectly to receive a low cross and put his foot on the end of it to send the ball past goalkeeper Drake Callender.

This is the team’s first loss in MLS since losing 4-0 away to the New York Red Bulls on March 23.

Lionel Messi scored, but could not score enough goals to emerge victorious

It is the first time Lionel Messi has lost a match in which he scored since the 2022 World Cup, when he converted a penalty but Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in Qatar.

Inter Miami have not performed well in all competitions in midweek, winning just one of their six games so far this season.

Atlanta United was 0-5-4 in MLS play since beating Chicago 3-0 on March 31. But it never trailed on Wednesday, with Lobjanidze scoring late in the first half to put his side on top and adding the second in the 59th minute. .

After Messi’s score, Atlanta United kept all ten outfield players on defense when the home side had a lot of ball possession in the last 30 minutes.

Messi scored his eleventh goal of the MLS season, making Luis Suarez the team leader. Inter Miami (10-3-4, 34 points) maintained a one-point lead atop the Eastern Conference and the overall MLS standings over Cincinnati (10-3-3, 33 points). Cincinnati lost to Nashville on Wednesday night and missed a chance to take first place.

Inter Miami started Wednesday with a 7-0-3 in their last ten MLS matches. They are now 10-0-4 when allowing two goals or fewer in MLS this season – and 0-3-0 when conceding three goals or more.

With 34 points in exactly half the MLS schedule – matching the total for the entire 2023 season, when Messi joined midway through and helped the team win the Leagues Cup but couldn’t make the playoffs – Inter Miami lies on course for 68 points this season.

Mathematically speaking, that is correct. Realistically, probably not that much.

Jamal Thiare got his boot after a low cross and scored the third goal for Atlanta United

They may miss MLS games when Inter Miami plays in Philadelphia (June 15), Columbus (June 19), Nashville (June 29), Charlotte (July 3) and Cincinnati (July 6). After the Copa América final, Miami also has home games against Toronto (July 17) and Chicago (July 20).

Unlike most leagues, MLS schedules matches during certain FIFA match periods, when releasing players to national teams is mandatory.

And after the Copa, it seems likely that Inter Miami will again lose some players as national teams call for the Olympic Games in Paris.

Messi had a few chances early on, including a diving header about four minutes into the match from a chip in the center of Jordi Alba’s penalty area.

For now, the plan calls for Messi to play at least a few minutes when Inter Miami hosts St. Louis on Saturday. Afterwards, Messi will swap the pink kit of Inter Miami for the blue of Argentina, playing for the country instead of the club for a while.

The Copa América – the 16-team tournament running from June 20 to July 14 – is just around the corner, with Messi set to play for defending champions Argentina and Suarez having the option of playing for Uruguay.

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal against Atlanta United in the second half

Messi, fending off some contact, sent the ball into the turf and the carom spun over the crossbar; he gave the idea a thumbs up and raised Alba from the grass, smiling.

And in the 21st minute, Messi sent a chip towards the left post – just over a leaping Robert Taylor, who would have had plenty of net to aim at had he been able to attempt the header.

His goal in the 63rd minute was a typical Messi masterpiece, sliding the ball between two defenders and just inside the right post, barely out of the reach of diving Atlanta goalkeeper Josh Cohen.