Explained: How Atlanta United managed to stun Lionel Messi ‘dream team’ & send ‘crazy’ Inter Miami squad crashing out of MLS Cup

The Herons entered the post-season in America considered by many to be favourites for ultimate glory. They posted a new single-season record for points earned in 2024, earning them a historic first Supporters’ Shield.

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David Beckham’s Florida-based franchise were, however, to suffer a shock defeat to Atlanta in their three-game series. Messi was among the goals in those fixtures, but the most decorated player of all-time was unable to add another trophy to his collection.

Atlanta assistant Robinson has told talkSPORT of downing Messi and Co: “You look at the level of players they have and they’ve built a dream team. They finished the regular season with 74 points which is the best ever for an MLS team and we snuck into the play-offs in ninth.

“It’s like the old FA Cup in the quarter-finals or semi-finals, it’s 11 against 11, we had a three-game series against them, we lost the first game 2-1 at their place and beat them at home in front of 70,000 in Atlanta and then we went down to their place again and beat them 3-2. So over the course of a three-legged series I think we deserved it because we managed to beat the best team in the league twice.”

Robinson added on containing the threat that Inter Miami’s collection of former Barcelona superstars pose: “The relationship that Messi has with Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and [Sergio] Busquets is crazy. Alba can be running down the left and Messi can be stood inside the centre circle and instead of crossing it he reverses it back into Messi’s feet.

“You have to be aware of every moment those four players are on the ball because the link-ups that they have with each other is incredible. You had to be in control of the game when you didn’t have the ball and that was a big focus that we went into the game with and fortunately I think it worked.”

Atlanta are marching on to face Orlando City in the next round of the MLS Cup play-offs, while Messi and Co have several months to lick their wounds before returning to action in 2025 – with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner still having a year left to run on his contract at Chase Stadium.