Lionel Messi begins his first MLS playoff campaign on Friday when Inter Miami take on Atlanta United in the opening game of the post-season journey to the MLS Cup final.
The Argentine has tasted success in all manner of formats in the game from ten Spanish league titles and four Champions League victories with Barcelona to the 2022 World Cup triumph with Argentina.
But while the level of competition in MLS doesn’t match those honors won throughout the career of the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner, the format is one the 37-year-old hasn’t encountered before.
Messi was celebrating on the field with his team-mates on Saturday after they received the Supporters’ Shield for finishing top of the regular season standings, the confetti and fireworks at Miami’s Chase Stadium coming after the team broke the league’s points record.
But despite FIFA president Gianni Infantino declaring that the Supporters Shield had earned Inter a place in next year’s Club World Cup, the reality is that the Shield counts for little in MLS.
Infantino had his reasons for elevating that title, mainly to lock in the marketing power of Messi in the new, expanded 32-team tournament which has yet to secure a broadcast deal or any sponsors.
But Miami’s co-owner David Beckham, who tasted both success and failure in the playoffs with Los Angeles Galaxy, knows that in MLS it’s all about the playoffs.
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