Sat Oct 26 04:57:51 UTC 2024: **Summary of News Article (Oct 24, 2024)**

– **Lionel Messi’s Return**: After recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during the Copa America, Lionel Messi is back in top form.
– **Playoff Opener**: Messi and Inter Miami will begin their Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup Playoff campaign against Atlanta United.
– **Strong Team Performance**: Inter Miami, the Supporters’ Shield winners and top playoff seed, comes into the postseason with impressive momentum.
– **Regular Season Achievements**: Messi concluded the regular season with 20 goals and 16 assists in 19 matches, highlighted by a hat trick in a recent 6-2 win over the New England Revolution. This performance helped Miami set a new regular-season points record of 74.
– **Coach’s Perspective**: Head coach Tata Martino emphasized the importance of team achievement over individual success, attributing the victory to the entire Inter Miami family.
– **Atlanta United’s Journey**: Atlanta United, the ninth seed, has faced challenges this season, including a coaching change and key player transfers. They managed to reach the playoffs with a recent win over Orlando City and a wild-card victory against CF Montreal.
– **Current Form**: Interim coach Rob Valentino noted the team’s recent resilience and improvement, as they are currently unbeaten in their last three matches.

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