MLS playoff predictions: Are Messi and Inter Miami unstoppable? Maybe not …

The regular season was determined by…

If last season was defined by Lionel Messi, this will pass Inter Miami as a whole. The club built the plane as they flew it, stretching the MLS rulebook to its limits by adding players, dropping others and finishing the season with the highest point total ever in the history of the competition. Big spending and sporting success have not usually gone hand in hand in the MLS, but 2024 was the year in which Miami showed that the era is definitely over. AA

More fun, interesting teams than we’ve ever seen on the field in a single MLS season. The league’s 29th campaign saw four teams average at least 1.87 points per game for the first time (which translates to a pace of at least 64 points in the existing 34-game schedule). Hats off to Miami, Columbus, LAFC and the Galaxy. JL

Inter Miami chases – and makes – history. Even with Messi absent this summer, the focus was on whether Tata Martino could keep his team on course for the Supporters’ Shield. That Inter Miami were able to maintain consistent form throughout the season says a lot about their impressive roster build. It’s not all about Messi, it turns out. GR

Best team not to make the play-offs…

It’s pretty clear that the Philadelphia Union are a much better team than they showed this year. They still have plenty of talent, a productive academy system and most of the key players who have made them 2022 MLS Cup finalists and a consistent threat in recent years. However, the defense was too haphazard in 2024, resulting in many lost leads – a league-worst 27 points dropped from winning positions. AA

You have to be pretty bad – or pretty unlucky – to miss the playoffs in a league where 62% of teams make the postseason. The Philadelphia Unionwho finished with the eighth-best xG differential in the league according to FBref, likely falls into the latter category. JL

2024 could have looked very different FCDallas if they could have gotten their best players on the field more often. Injuries hit the Texans hard. Two (Alan Velasco and Jesus Ferreira) of their three Designated Players played less than 1,400 minutes during the campaign. Even Petar Musa, who scored 16 goals, was bitten by a Frisco injury that put Dallas’ season in jeopardy. GR

Your dark horses are…

In the West: Vancouver. The 5-0 loss to Portland in Wednesday’s wildcard game will send them flying high, and in Ryan Gauld they have a special player who can turn the fortunes of virtually any match. In the East: Charlotte FC. Kristijan Kahlina has put together several game-winning performances this year and there’s no reason to think he can’t do something similar in the playoffs. AA

While the playoff field is top-heavy than ever, I’m not prepared to play against the Seattle sirens. They have the league’s best defense in terms of goals allowed and xG, not to mention postseason experience. Minnesota United could also surprise, as the top of the West appears more vulnerable than the top of the East. JL

Minnesota United. The sixth seed in the Western Conference has performed admirably this season considering the late arrival of Eric Ramsay, and the Loons may have timed their run for the playoffs perfectly by winning four of their last five regular season games. If Kelvin Yeboah can stay hot, Minnesota could go far. GR

Big team threatens to go out early…

LA Milky Way. Greg Vanney’s side have been a lot of fun to watch, but they boast the worst defensive record of any play-off qualifier. Their opponent Colorado has lost four straight heading into the playoffs, but so has Vancouver before dominating Portland. Djordje Mihailovic is adept at picking apart defenses, and the Galaxy’s could be next in line. AA

Both No. 3 seeds – FC Cincinnati and Real Salt Lake – could go out in the first round. But what if I go really big? A meltdown in the first round or conference semifinals is definitely not below par LA Milky Way. They are an elite offensive team, but one with huge defensive deficiencies. JL

FC Cincinnati. Pat Noonan’s team may struggle to live up to their expectations as the third seed in the East. Injuries have depleted Cincy and Aaron Boupendza’s contract termination leaves them nowhere near a match-winning No. 9. Problems on both ends of the field leave FC Cincinnati vulnerable against New York City FC in the first round. GR

Player to watch…

It’s Messi. Sorry. But if you’re looking for a squad that’s a little more under the radar than the most famous and greatest player to ever kick a ball, might I recommend Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna. The US youth international’s energetic style and flair for the dramatic make him feel right at home in a side always keen to make every match a battle. AA

Messi is of course the right answer. But let’s give Cucho Hernández some love, shall we? The 25-year-old Columbus Crew star is part forward, part winger, part attacking midfielder and all fun. He has worked his way up to the Colombian national team and is the one who makes Wilfried Nancy’s system sing. JL

Gabriel Pec could be the key to the LA Galaxy making a deep run. The Brazilian has been in exceptional form, scoring in each of his last five games. If he keeps that up, the Cup could be on its way back to Carson. GR

Eastern Conference Finals…

Inter Miami over Columbus Crew. AA

Inter Miami over Columbus Crew. JL

Columbus crew over Inter Miami. GR

Western Conference Finals…

Real Salt Lake over Seattle Sounders. AA

LAFC over LA Galaxy. JL

LAFC over LA Galaxy. GR

MLS Cup Final…

Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake. Real Salt Lake has a chance to fulfill their role as MLS’s perennial dark horse, and they will show enough fight to make the game a classic. But we all know how this is going to end. In a one-off format, in a final, I don’t think there is any point in doubting what Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and all their teammates can do. AA

Inter Miami over LAFC. I’m not bold (or foolish?) enough to pick against an Inter Miami team whose best player ever set the single-season points record. We’ve never seen anything like Inter Miami 2024 in the MLS, and from the looks of it, neither has an opposing defense. They have more than enough juice to lift the MLS Cup. JL

Columbus crew over LAFC. After Messi Mania and referee lockouts and the US Open Cup controversy and everything else in between, a rematch of last year’s MLS Cup final could be on the cards. Inter Miami has Messi, but Columbus has Wilfried Nancy and the Crew not only play the most exciting football in MLS, they also know how to win knockout games. GR