Inter Miami broke their unbeaten streak without Messi
In the pre-match press conference, coach Gerardo Martino confirmed that Messi was not injured, but emphasized the need to be cautious because the 36-year-old player has been playing continuously for a short time. After joining Inter Miami on a free transfer in July, the Argentine star played 11 matches, scored 11 goals and assisted five times.
During the team gathering in September, Messi scored the only goal to help Argentina defeat Ecuador 1-0 and then asked to be replaced at the end of the match because he was tired. After the match, he admitted this could happen again many times. Messi was also not registered to play but played the role of assistant to coach Lionel Scaloni in the next match, a 3-0 win over Bolivia in La Paz - a place more than 3,000 meters above sea level.
Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of five stadiums with artificial turf in MLS. Inter Miami did not announce the reason for Messi and Alba's absence, but Atlanta owner Arthur Blank said that the artificial turf surface was not the cause.
"I think Messi decided not to play. I really have no opinion on that," Blank said. "Messi used to play on artificial turf when he was a young player and when he played professionally. I think that's not the reason. Maybe Messi is injured, even though it's not serious."
Messi's absence was a disappointment to the 71,635 spectators who attended Mercedes-Benz Stadium on the evening of September 16. Many fans wore pink Inter Miami shirts with Messi's name printed on the back, but the idol could not be seen. Messi didn't even move with the team to Atlanta.
Unlike the match against Sporting Kansas City, where Inter Miami won 3-2 despite the absence of Messi or the match where they crushed Atlanta 4-0 in the Leagues Cup on July 26, today, Martino and his team lost to Atlanta. In the 25th minute, Leonardo Campana lifted the ball in the penalty area and then volleyed his left foot into the roof of goalkeeper Brad Guzan's net to break the deadlock. But before the first half ended, Atlanta won 3-1 thanks to Tristan Muyumba, Brooks Lennon and Kamal Miller's counter kick.
In the 53rd minute, Campana completed the double with a low penalty shot to the left corner, contrary to Guzan's judgment. But then, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Tyler Wolff scored respectively, sealing a 5-2 victory for Atlanta.
Inter Miami broke their 12-match unbeaten streak, since losing to St. Louis 0-3 on July 16, when they didn't even have Messi playing. Miami currently has 28 points, six points ahead of bottom team Toronto FC in the East, and behind ninth place D.C. United - last place with tickets to MLS Play-offs - six points, but is playing one less match. On September 20, Inter Miami returned to DRV PNK's home field to meet Toronto.
