Missing Lionel Messi, Inter Miami playoff hopes dealt devastating blow by Chicago Fire FC

Missing arguably the greatest soccer player of all time for the fourth straight game, Inter Miami CF was comprehensively defeated by Chicago Fire FC, 4-1, in front of a crowd of 60,000-plus fans at Soldier Field on Wednesday night.

The defeat is devastating for Miami's very faint playoff hopes. While not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, Inter Miami must win out and get help along the way … possibly without Lionel Messi, whose day-to-day status has prevented him from playing in his team's last four games, not one of those games a victory.

This overwhelming result in front of a record-setting crowd at Soldier Field could be a seminal victory in the recent history of Chicago Fire FC. With Wednesday night's win, the Fire are in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and just the third time in the last 14 seasons.

The Chicago Fire vault into the eighth-place spot in the Eastern Conference, and if the season ended today would host CF Montréal in a wild-card playoff game. Inter Miami, meanwhile, falls to 14th place behind other playoff hopefuls New York City FC, D.C. United, New York Red Bulls and Charlotte FC. Miami is five points out of the ninth and final playoff spot with just three more games to play.

When do Lionel Messi and Inter Miami play next?

While Lionel Messi's playing status remains up in the air, Inter Miami must shake off the humbling defeat to Chicago Fire FC before hosting FC Cincinnati on Saturday. FC Cincinnati lost to the New York Red Bulls, 2-1, before being presented with the Supporters' Shield. Presented to the team that earns the most points during the MLS regular season, the Supporters' Shield represents the first trophy won by FC Cincinnati in its MLS history.

Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire FC score, highlights

Maren Haile-Selassie and Xherdan Shaqiri each had a brace as Chicago Fire FC earned a crucial 4-1 win over Inter Miami CF, which is winless in all four MLS games its played without Lionel Messi.

Here are the goals:

49' - Xherdan Shaqiri (assist: Fabian Herbers, Jonathan Dean)

53' - Josef Martinez (penalty kick)

62' - Maren Haile-Selassie (assist: Fabian Herbers)

66' - Maren Haile-Selassie (assist: Ousmane Doumbia)

73' - Xherdan Shaqiri (assist: Gastón Giménez)

Chicago Fire 4, Inter Miami 1: Xherdan Shaqiri gets his brace

Inter Miami's playoff hopes are getting crushed during a dominant second-half performance from Chicago.

Xherdan Shaqiri scored his second goal of the game in the 73rd minute to build a nearly insurmountable lead.

If the result holds, this will be huge for Chicago and a devastating blow to Miami's postseason aspirations. Inter Miami will emerge from this still mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff chase, but will need to win out and get help along the way to qualify. Chicago, meanwhile, could find itself in prime position to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season.

Chicago Fire 3, Inter Miami 1: The Maren Haile-Selassie Game!

Chicago Fire interim coach Frank Klopas made a stroke of genius getting Maren Haile-Selassie into the game.

Just four minutes after giving Chicago the lead, Haile-Selassie buried another goal as the Fire built a two-goal lead in a must-win game for both teams.

Haile-Selassie joined the Chicago Fire on loan from Swiss club FC Lugano on Dec. 27, 2022. The 24-year-old midfielder had netted four goals in 29 previous games played this season.

Chicago Fire 2, Inter Miami 1: Substitution pays off

A 55th-minute substitution by interim coach Frank Klopas paid huge dividends a few minutes later.

Maren Haile-Selassie, who came on for Brian Gutiérrez, put Chicago into the lead after Miami missed its opportunities to get ahead.

Missed opportunities for Miami

Hope the 60,000-plus fans stuck around at Soldier Field after a lackluster first half, because the game has really opened up in the second half.

After the back-to-back goals, Inter Miami missed two great opportunities to take the lead. First, Facundo Farías missed left on a shot from the center of the penalty box in the 58th minute. A minute later, Benjamin Cremaschi just missed his chance on goal.

Inter Miami 1, Chicago Fire 1: Josef Martinez buries penalty kick

The Chicago Fire's lead did not last long.

In the 52nd minute, a shot toward goal by Benjamin Cremaschi was blocked, but Chicago's Jonathan Dean was called for a hand ball in the penalty area. Josef Martínez converted the penalty kick to even the score at 1-1.

Chicago Fire 1, Inter Miami 0: Xherdan Shaqiri strikes first

Switzerland soccer icon Xherdan Shaqiri might have scored his most important goal yet during his Chicago Fire tenure, burying a chance in the 49th minute.

A wide-open Shaqiri collected what seemed like a slow ground ball through the 18-yard box off the foot of teammate Fabian Herbers.

Inter Miami coach picks up a yellow card

The near sellout crowd at Soldier Field was treated to a bizarre situation where Inter Miami coach Tata Martino was issued a yellow card after his team was was late coming out of the locker room after halftime.

Mixed bag of MLS results for Inter Miami, Chicago Fire

Inter Miami and the Chicago Fire are among six teams chasing the final two available playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

Two of those teams have already won. Charlotte FC defeating Wooden Spoon contender Toronto FC, 3-0. The New York Red Bulls — who currently own the longest active playoff streak among major U.S. pro sports leagues at 13 seasons — faced a possible elimination scenario Wednesday, but remain mathematically involved in the playoff chase after a 2-1 win over FC Cincinnati. CF Montréal got a stoppage time goal from Lassi Lappalainen to earn a point against Houston Dynamo FC.

D.C. United was trailing Austin FC 2-0 at halftime.

Halftime: Chicago Fire 0, Inter Miami 0

A near must-win match for both teams in front of a near capacity crowd at Soldier Field did not feature a goal in the first half.

While Inter Miami enjoyed the majority of the possession, the Chicago Fire had the better chances at goal.

Sergio Busquets presented with a yellow card

Sergio Busquets earned the game's first yellow card after a foul on Chicago's 20-year-old wunderkind Brian Gutiérrez.

Three minutes later Xherdan Shaqiri's shot attempt from outside the 18-yard box flew wide to the right of the goalmouth, not entirely challenging Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Coach Beard is at Soldier Field

Brendan Hunt, better known as Coach Beard from the hit show "Ted Lasso," is attending the Inter Miami-Chicago Fire game at Soldier Field.

He also attended the Chicago Bears' game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on Sunday.

The Bears blew a 21-point second-half lead to lose the game 31-28 and fall to 0-4. If the NFL season ended right now (which, thankfully, it doesn't), the Bears would own the top two picks in the 2024 NFL draft.

Miami has best chance yet in 24th minute

The action is picking up at Soldier Field in a must-win game for both teams.

Inter Miami made Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady make a nifty diving save on shot attempt by Noah Allen.

A Chicago counter attack was immediately snuffed out and Miami retained possession, which it has enjoyed for much of the first half so far.

Chicago nearly nets first goal

The first corner kick of the game resulted in nervy moments in front of goal as the Fire nearly netted the game's first goal in the 15th minute.

Fabian Herbers' close-range attempt was blocked, resulting in a second corner, an opportunity that was wasted by Chicago.

How to watch Messi's Inter Miami match today vs. Chicago Fire FC

The Inter Miami-Chicago Fire FC match at 8:30 p.m. ET is available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Starting lineups: Lionel Messi not available for Inter Miami

As expected, Lionel Messi is neither starting nor available off the bench. This is the sixth Inter Miami game that Messi has missed.

Here is the starting 11 for Inter Miami:

Jordi Alba, Messi's former FC Barcelona teammate, also is not available.

Inter Miami has collected more points in the two away matches that Messi has played in (6) than it has in 13 away games without him (5).

Here is the starting 11 for Chicago Fire FC:

Xherdan Shaqiri represented Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup. Kei Kamara, the team's leading goal scorer with five, starts the game on the bench.

Chicago enters Wednesday night's game having won three of its five previous meetings against Miami.

Has Lionel Messi practiced with Inter Miami during his injury stint?

Lionel Messi participated in Inter Miami's practice on Tuesday before the team headed to Chicago for Wednesday night's game. After the practice, Inter Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino reiterated Messi's day-to-day playing status.

"If it doesn't happen, it would be taken as, ‘Well, today I look like the biggest ticket seller in the MLS. It might have something to do with the sale of tickets,' But no, we are concerned about the players," Martino said. "I make a very serious mistake if I say something hastily. That's why I avoid exact times. I understand your desire to know the exact times, but if I had the exact times I would say so, but I don't have them either."

Which games has Lionel Messi missed?

Following a statement win over reigning league champion Los Angeles FC in Los Angeles on Sept. 3 — in which Lionel Messi played the entire game — he has missed five Inter Miami games.

After playing (and scoring the winning goal) in Argentina's 2026 World Cup qualifier against Ecuador on Sept. 7, Messi sat out Argentina's World Cup qualifier on Sept. 12 against Bolivia. In the interim, he missed Inter Miami's 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 9.

Messi returned to Miami after the FIFA international break, but did not dress for his team's 5-2 defeat against Atlanta United on Sept. 16. He played briefly in a 4-0 win over Toronto FC on Sept. 20, left the game in the first half due to fatigue and hasn't played since.

With Lionel Messi doubtful to play, Chicago Fire offers credit to fans

The Chicago Fire appeared to be well aware that it could be a disappointing night for many in attendance at Soldier Field for the game against Inter Miami, with some of those fans having paid well over face value for a chance at catching a glimpse of Lionel Messi in action.

With Messi's doubtful playing status, the Chicago Fire announced that it would be offering all fans in the crowd a credit toward season tickets for next season, or for a future match.

What to know about Chicago Fire FC

The Chicago Fire entered MLS as an expansion team in 1998 and went on to win MLS Cup (as well as the U.S. Open Cup) under coach Bob Bradley.

The Chicago Fire are the only major U.S. men's professional sports franchise to win its league championship in its inaugural season. (Though, to be fair, MLS only had 12 teams then. More recently, the Vegas Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Final as an expansion team during the 2017-18 NHL season.)

The Chicago Fire reached the MLS Cup three times in its first six seasons (losing in 2000 to the Kansas City Wizards and 2003 to the San Jose Earthquakes). Since 2010, however, the Chicago Fire have been on a real struggle bus. The team has qualified for the MLS playoffs just twice over the last 13 seasons. If the Chicago Fire manage to pull out a victory over Inter Miami on Wednesday night, it would reach the 40-point mark for just the third time in the last 10 seasons. Yikes!

Inter Miami could set a goal-scoring record

Both Inter Miami and the Los Angeles Galaxy have tied an MLS single-season team record by having 18 different players score a goal over the course of the 2023 regular season. Each could set a new record Wednesday night.

Those goal scorers for Inter Miami entering Wednesday's game are Leonardo Campana (9 goals), Josef Martinez (6), Robert Taylor (4), Facundo Farías (3), Benjamin Cremaschi (2), David Ruíz (2), Jordi Alba (1), Noah Allen (1), Dixon Arroyo (1), Tomás Avilés (1), Shanyder Borgelin (1), Ian Fray (1), Diego Gómez (1), Corentin Jean (1), Sergii Kryvstov (1), Lionel Messi (1), Franco Negri (1) and Nicolas Stefanelli (1).

Three key players to keep an eye on to register their first Inter Miami goal this season and put the Herons into the record books include Sergio Busquets, Kamal Miller, DeAndre Yedlin and Jean Mota. Busquets, Miller and Yedlin are starting, while Mota is available as a sub.

Where does Inter Miami stand in MLS playoff race?

As Messi deals with a lingering leg injury, Inter Miami's postseason hopes are hanging by a thread. Luckily for Miami, there's a collection of middling clubs vying for the Eastern Conference's final two available playoff spots. Six teams are within five points of the conference's last two remaining playoff spots.

Inter Miami enters Wednesday's MLS Matchday 36 sitting in 13th place in the 15-team conference, with 33 points from 30 games played. New York City FC (38 points) and CF Montréal (37 points) currently sit in the final two playoff spots (eighth and ninth, respectively) in the standings. Also ahead of Inter Miami in the standings are D.C. United (37 points), Chicago Fire FC (37 points) and the New York Red Bulls (34 points). Each of those teams has played at least one more game than Miami, helping the Herons' postseason chances.

What is Inter Miami's remaining 2023 schedule?

• Oct. 7: vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET

• Oct. 18: vs. Charlotte FC, 8 p.m. ET

• Oct. 21: at Charlotte FC, 6 p.m. ET

The rest of Inter Miami’s matches and the rest of MLS are available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

MLS playoff picture

These would be the MLS playoff matchups through the first round, if the season ended before Wednesday night's games …

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlanta United, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, Orlando City, Nashville SC, New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union have clinched playoff spots. FC Cincinnati has clinched the Supporters' Shield.

Wild-card match:

• New York City FC (No. 8 seed) vs. CF Montréal (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three series)

• FC Cincinnati (1) vs. New York City FC (8)-CF Montréal (9) winner

• Orlando City SC (2) vs. Nashville SC (7)

• New England Revolution (3) vs. Atlanta United (6)

• Philadelphia Union (4) vs. Columbus Crew (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

St. Louis City SC has clinched a playoff spot and the No. 1 seed in the conference.

Wild-card match

• San Jose Earthquakes (No. 8 seed) vs. FC Dallas (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three series)

• St. Louis City SC (1) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (8)-FC Dallas (9) winner

• Real Salt Lake (2) vs. Portland Timbers (7)

• Seattle Sounders (3) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6)

• Los Angeles FC (4) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (5)

What is the MLS playoff format and schedule?

A total of 18 teams qualify for the MLS playoffs — the top nine finishers from each conference.

The eighth- and ninth-place finishers in each conference will play in wild-card matches. The top seven seeds qualify for the Round 1 best-of-three series.

Here is the playoff schedule:

• Oct. 25-26: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)

• Oct. 28-Nov. 12: Round 1 (best-of-three series)

• Nov. 25-Dec. 3: Conference semifinals and finals (single-elimination matches)

• Dec. 9: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

What are Wednesday's MLS matches?

These are the matchups for MLS Matchday 36:

• Charlotte FC vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

• FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET

• CF Montréal vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

• New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET

• Philadelphia Union vs. Atlanta United FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

• Austin FC vs. D.C. United, 8:30 p.m. ET

• Chicago Fire FC vs. Inter Miami CF, 8:30 p.m. ET

• FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m. ET

• Nashville SC vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m. ET (FS1)

• Los Angeles FC vs. Minnesota United FC, 10:30 p.m. ET (FS1)

• Seattle Sounders FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. ET

• Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. St. Louis City SC, 10:30 p.m. ET

All games are available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Lionel Messi has top-selling jersey in MLS

In news that will shock absolutely nobody, Lionel Messi has the No. 1 selling jersey in MLS, the league revealed last week.

There are the top 25 selling player jerseys on MLSstore.com:

1. Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF

2. João Klauss, St. Louis City SC

3. Hany Mukhtar, Nashville SC

4. Sebastián Driussi, Austin FC

5. Carlos Vela, Los Angeles FC

6. Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders FC

7. Raúl Ruidíaz, Seattle Sounders FC

8. Thiago Almada, Atlanta United

9. Eduard Löwen, St. Louis City SC

10. Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders FC

11. Walker Zimmerman, Nashville SC

12. Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, Los Angeles Galaxy

13. Sergio Busquets, Inter Miami CF

14. Tim Parker, St. Louis City SC

15. Riqui Puig, Los Angeles Galaxy

16. Brandon Vázquez, FC Cincinnati

17. Karol Świderski, Charlotte FC

18. John Tolkin, New York Red Bulls

19. Diego Chará, Portland Timbers

20. Dénis Bouanga, Los Angeles FC

21. Josef Martínez, Inter Miami CF

22. Carles Gil, New England Revolution

23. Dániel Gazdag, Philadelphia Union

24. Enzo Copetti, Charlotte FC

25. Xherdan Shaqiri, Chicago Fire FC

There 15 different teams represented on the top 25 selling jersey lists, as well as 13 different nationalities:

• Argentina (Thiago Almada, Enzo Copetti, Sebastián Driussi, Lionel Messi)

• Brazil (João Klauss)

• Colombia (Diego Chará)

• Gabon (Dénis Bouanga)

• Germany (Eduard Löwen, Hany Mukhtar)

• Hungary (Dániel Gazdag)

• Mexico (Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, Carlos Vela)

• Peru (Raúl Ruidíaz)

• Poland (Karol Świderski)

• Spain (Sergio Busquets, Carles Gil, Riqui Puig)

• Switzerland (Xherdan Shaqiri)

• United States (Jordan Morris, Tim Parker, Cristian Roldan, John Tolkin, Brandon Vázquez, Walker Zimmerman)

• Venezuela (Josef Martínez)

'Messi Meets America' documentary set for release soon on Apple TV+

“Messi Meets America” will premiere its first three episodes worldwide Oct. 11 on Apple TV+. A trailer for the documentary was released Monday.

The documentary “chronicles Leo’s immersion in America, the remarkable journey and transformation of Inter Miami CF, and most significantly, the impact he is currently having on soccer in North America,” according to a news release.

Portions of the documentary still are being filmed as Messi’s first season with Inter Miami winds to an end.

There’s a David Beckham doc, too

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham also has a documentary, which was released Wednesday on Netflix.

The project, called "Beckham," a four-part docuseries about the fabled soccer star, chronicling Becks' triumphs and tribulations on the pitch. Beckham played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and the Los Angeles Galaxy. The documentary also dives into Beckham's trendsetting fashion and his dynamic romance with pop icon Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham.

Upon retirement from soccer, Beckham continued his involvement in the sport by bringing an MLS franchise to Miami, where he managed to lure Lionel Messi to Inter Miami.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chicago Fire-Inter Miami score, highlights: Lionel Messi misses game