Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are already playing in the Major League Soccer Playoffs, which feature an unusual format for soccer but revolutionizes the elimination phases in this sport.

How does the MLS Playoff format work?

The first round is played in a best-of-three format, following a classic American sports format, but one that is uncommon in soccer. If each team wins one match in the first two encounters, they will have to play a third match, regardless of the goal difference in the previous games.

Additionally, if any of those first matches ends in a tie, a penalty shootout will occur. This shootout counts as a win for the team that prevails. For example, a team may lose the first match and tie the second, yet still play a third tiebreaker if the team that lost and tied wins the penalty shootout.

In the subsequent phases—quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals—the matches are played as single-elimination games, with the higher-seeded team hosting. In these cases, if there is a tie after 90 minutes, extra time will be played before resorting to penalties.

What is at stake for Messi with Inter Miami?

After splitting wins in the Playoffs, Inter Miami will face Atlanta United in a decisive match on November 9.

In the first round series, best-of-three, the Florida team managed to win 2-1 against their rival, but in the second match, they let go of a one-goal lead and ended up losing 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Now, in a third meeting, Messi and company are playing for their entire season, and the winner will advance directly to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Afterward, he will travel with the Argentine National Team

After determining his future with Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi will travel to represent the Albiceleste, having been included in Lionel Scaloni's roster for the last double FIFA match window of the year.

The world champion team has two tough matches on their schedule. First, they will face Paraguay on Thursday, November 14, in Asunción, and then finish 2024 with a match against Peru at La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' legendary stadium in Argentina, on Tuesday, November 19.