Miami had everything in place to finish 2024: Messi, a stellar squad and the platform of an exemplary regular season which no other club matched. The stars were aligning. Maybe it felt too easy.

Lionel Messi said Inter Miami will get ready to "come back stronger next year" after the Herons' upset loss to Atlanta United in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.

FIFA's controversial decision to award Inter Miami a backdoor route into the Club World Cup has proved prescient after Lionel Messi's team were stunned by Atlanta United in the MLS playoffs.