- MLS. Lionel Messi stuns everyone by speaking English on camera for first time in Bad Boys trailer
- MLS. Lionel Messi gives Will Smith an Oscar performance and leaves him speechless in viral video
Lionel Messi's impressive goal couldn't prevent Inter Miami from falling to a 3-1 defeat against Atlanta United, ending Miami's 10-match unbeaten run in Major League Soccer.
Despite Messi's continued brilliance, it was a tough night for Inter Miami as Atlanta United secured their first league victory in nearly two months.
Messi's brilliance shines in 2nd half
The match, held on Wednesday night, saw Saba Lobjanidze score twice for Atlanta United, once in each half.
Jamal Thiare added another goal in the 73rd minute, sealing the victory for Atlanta and snapping their nine-match winless streak.
The win marked Atlanta's first triumph since their 3-0 victory over Chicago on March 31.
Lionel Messi's goal in the 63rd minute was a classic display of his skill, threading the ball between two defenders and into the right corner of the net, beyond the reach of Atlanta's goalkeeper Josh Cohen.
This goal brought Messi's tally to 11 for the MLS season, tying him with Luis Suárez for the team lead.
However, Messi's efforts were in vain as Atlanta United maintained a solid defense for the remainder of the match.
Inter Miami remain with 34 points in the table
Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino acknowledged the superior urgency displayed by Atlanta United.
"Atlanta played with more urgency, and that showed throughout the first half. We needed more, and it was a night where our team receded," Martino said post-match. He also noted the deceptive nature of Atlanta's position in the standings, which they disproved with their performance.
Inter Miami, who led the Eastern Conference and overall MLS standings before the match, now holds a one-point lead over Cincinnati.
The defeat brought their record to 10-3-4 with 34 points from 17 matches, matching their total from the entire previous season.
The match also marked the first time Messi has lost a game in which he scored since the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Inter Miami's midweek performance woes continued, with only one win in their last six midweek games.
Looking ahead, Inter Miami aims to bounce back as they host St. Louis on Saturday.
Messi is expected to play before he s Argentina for the Copa América.
The tournament, running from June 20 through July 14, could see Messi and other key players miss several MLS matches.