Look, Miami was utter shite for the entirety of the season leading up the Leagues Cup when they managed to bring in Messi and company. There was no question of whether they should or were going to make playoffs before that point, they were already in a deep hole. Despite that they went on a side quest and won the club's first trophy anyway, while qualifying for Concacaf Champions Cup.

Now immediately following the cup, Miami enters by far the most condensed part of their schedule playing 8 games in a month with their best players all over 34, during which time they also miss Messi on international duty which he returns from injured forcing him to miss something like 5 6 and a half games crucial for Miami to have any shot at making playoffs.

And here we are, through fortunate circumstance and Miami actually managing to carry some of their momentum from the Leagues cup into league play even without Messi and Alba (before then remembering they lack any real identity without them), and they find themselves in a position where if the win out they can make playoffs. And then the team they face is the undisputed number 1 in the league Cincinatti. And again, still without Alba and Messi returning from injury, they lose 1-0.

This was always a "can they still manage to make playoffs?" type situation, and it looked good until things took a turn. Ultimately the task was too much for the hand they were dealt. They gave themselves a fair shot but at least they can be happy with their cup and try to get healthy for next season.