Lionel Messi returned to action, rested and engaged. But most of his Inter Miami teammates felt the ill-effects of the longest road trip in Major League Soccer on Wednesday night.

Messi scored in the 62nd minute, but Inter Miami fell 3-1 to Atlanta United at Chase Stadium – four days after the club won 2-1 at Vancouver without Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio. But the high-priced stars and their teammates wilted on a steamy, humid night and Miami’s 10-game unbeaten streak ended with a 3-1 loss to an Atlanta team that had gone winless the past nine games and played with more urgency as its coach Gonzalo Pineda is on the hot seat. Inter Miami looked sluggish from the start, and Atlanta took advantage. #messi #intermiami #atlanta

Saba scored in the 44th and 59th minutes for a brace, while Jamal Thiaré finished a sliding goal in the 73rd minute to help Atlanta win its fourth match of the Major League Soccer season and hand Inter Miami its third loss of the season.

Messi gave Miami fans at Chase Stadium reason to hope after a left-footed golazo from distance in the 62nd minute, but the Messi magic was not enough.