Messi, Miami set sights set on MLS Cup playoff triumph

MIAMI, United States — Lionel Messi begins his first MLS playoff campaign on Friday (Saturday Manila time) when Inter Miami takes on Atlanta United in the opening game of the postseason journey to the MLS Cup final.

The Argentine has tasted success in all manner of formats in the game from 10 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 teammates 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.

After praising coach Gerardo Martino for an "incredible season", Beckham was quick to add: "But this year is not finished, on to the playoffs and we'll be ready".

The format offers little room for error.

The first task will be the "best of three" series against Martino's former club Atlanta, where aggregate score doesn't count and there are no draws, with penalty shoot-outs coming if the game is level after 90 minutes.

Two wins will take Miami through and with the firepower of Messi and his former Barca teammate Luis Suarez, who have scored 20 goals each in the regular season, should be enough to take them past an Atlanta side that finished ninth in the Eastern Conference.

From then on though, every match is a knock-out game, although they will feature extra