In the 2024 MLS playoffs, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will need to secure a series of wins to officially claim the championship.
As is known, the MLS divides teams into two conferences: East and West. Messi’s Inter Miami is in the Eastern Conference and finished the season at the top, winning the Supporters’ Shield.
The top eight teams from each conference are paired to compete in the MLS Cup playoffs, with the ultimate goal of determining the final champions in an East-West showdown to crown the 2024 MLS champion.
This morning, on October 26, Inter Miami defeated their first playoff opponent, Atalanta, with a 2-1 victory. Their next opponent will be the winner of the match between Orlando City and Charlotte. If Messi’s team wins again, they will advance to the Eastern Conference final (against Cincinnati, New York, Columbus, or the Red Bulls).
The Eastern and Western Conference playoff brackets in MLS 2024.
Thus, Inter Miami needs two more victories to secure a spot in the East-West final, which is the last match of the season and will determine the 2024 MLS champion.
Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami on a free transfer on July 16, 2023, after his contract with PSG ended. In his first season, his presence helped Inter Miami claim their first title, the Leagues Cup. This season, Messi has continued to play brilliantly, propelling Inter Miami from the bottom of the MLS standings to the top, winning the historic Supporters’ Shield.
With their current impressive form, Messi and Inter Miami are on a path to making history. Just three more matches remain, and if they win all of them, Inter Miami will officially claim their first MLS Cup since their founding.
