FC Cincinnati eliminates Inter Miami from playoff chase despite Messi’s return.

Three Up, Three Down: Who shined, who didn’t as Cincinnati ends Inter Miami’s playoff hopes

Five teams remain alive in the quest for the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots, but Inter Miami is not among them. A 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati paired with wins by Charlotte, Montreal and New York Red Bulls eliminated the Herons.

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi signs a young fan’s jersey after he was caught running onto the pitch Saturday at DRV PNK Stadium. / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

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Sergio Busquets, B

[KEN] The cerebral Busquets didn’t especially stand out last night, but the 35-year-old’s reliability deserves a nod and this seems as good a place as any. Busquets has played 1,518 minutes in 18 appearances for Inter Miami, including every minute in nine straight matches since Aug. 30 against Nashville.

Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets scrambles to get to the ball Saturday against a Cincinnati defender. / Megan Briggs/GettyImages

[MATT] If nothing else, Busquets has been the most consistent signing from July for Inter Miami. You know exactly what you are going to get with Busquets -- whether Messi is on the field at the same time or not. That is exactly what you look for in a central midfielder... consistency. Ironically, that's the same thing that's been lacking from Inter Miami of late... consistency.

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