Whilst most leagues are still getting up and running, the MLS is now one matchday away from the playoffs. The ex-Barca boys - along with the rest of the Inter Miami squad - clinched the club's first Supporters’ Shield last week with two games to spare.

This is Inter Miami’s fifth ever season since the club’s establishment and their first breaking into the top five of the Eastern Conference.

The Florida-based team’s fans have witnessed some real star power this season, as Lionel Messi currently has 19 goals and 12 assists in just 21 games, including two last week against 2024 Leagues Cup Champions, Columbus Crew in the match that saw them take the title. Luis Suarez is the team’s top scorer with 22 goals and 10 assists in 33 games, that's without even mentioning Jordi Alba who has racked up 13 assists from defence and Sergio Busquets who at 36 years old is the only outfield player in the squad with over 3000 minutes played.

Miami have the chance to break the regular season points record (73 points) on the 19th of October in their next and final game against the current holders of the record, New England Revolution (Miami currently have 71 points).

Looking away from the run away favourites, there are still 17 other spots to fill in the play offs, so who else has already booked their place with just one game to go?

What a team, what a season! 🌴👏

Inter Miami takes home the 2024 Supporters' Shield 🛡️ pic.twitter.com/LlBbj6MYPR

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 3, 2024

Western Conference

Things are a lot closer over in the west but LA Galaxy look like the almost guaranteed champions of the Los Angeles dominated west, a brilliant bounce back from their disappointing 13th place finish in the 2023 campaign. In fact, all nine teams filling the play off places in this conference are already confirmed for the play offs, meaning the play off picture currently looks like this:

1st - LA Galaxy (64 points, 33 games played)

2nd - LAFC (58 points, 32 games played)

3rd - Seattle Sounders (56 points, 33 games played)

4th - Real Salt Lake (56 points, 33 games played)

5th - Houston Dynamo (51 points, 33 games played)

6th - Colorado Rapids (50 points, 33 games played)

7th - Minnesota United (49 points, 33 games played)

8th - Vancouver White Caps (47 points, 32 games played)

9th - Portland Timbers (46 points, 33 games played)

Whilst the nine teams are decided, where they place is still yet to be determined, LAFC could still top the chart on goal difference as well as any of the teams from 5th-9th finishing in the wildcard spots (8th/9th) which would result in them playing an unwanted extra game. It’s also been a season to forget for bottom side San Jose Earthquakes who have the lowest points tally by far (21), 24 losses and 75 goals conceded (matching the most goals conceded in a season) and will take away the ‘Wooden Spoon’ (an award given to the worst ranked team) trophy for a record fifth time.

13 goals & 14 assists on the season 👏

Riqui Puig is having his best season yet and on the verge of securing the Western Conference's No. 1 seed with @LAGalaxy: https://t.co/vFUh4iFZh8 pic.twitter.com/0VWCNgtjUI

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 4, 2024

Eastern Conference

Although Inter Miami have gained an 11-point gap at the top, it is still relatively close between the rest as the play off race extends down to 12th place. Last year's play off winners Columbus Crew look set for second and Charlotte FC have already beaten their previous personal points record to achieve their best finish in their three season history. Seven of the nine total play off teams are confirmed which leaves two spots up for grabs. The east shapes up like this:

1st - Inter Miami (71 points, 33 games played)

2nd - Columbus Crew (60 points, 32 games played)

3rd - FC Cincinnati (56 points, 33 games played)

4th - Orlando City ( 52 points, 33 games played)

5th - NYCFC (50 points, 33 games played)

6th - Charlotte FC (48 points, 33 games played)

7th - NY Red Bulls (47 points, 33 games played)

8th - DC United (40 points, 33 games played)

9th - CF Montreal (40 points, 33 games played)

10th - Toronto FC (37 points, 34 games played)

11th - Philadelphia Union (37 points, 33 games played)

12th - Atlanta United (37 points, 33 games played)

Evidently the East has a lower point threshold needed for the play offs which leaves a 3-point gap between 8th and 12th, Toronto have already finished their season leaving them unable to qualify. Both Philadelphia and Atlanta should still be hopeful as they hold a much greater goal difference than those in 8th and 9th (including Montreal with a goal difference of -18!). Like the Western Conference, many of the final placements are still undecided. Chicago Fire extended their poor MLS run to just two play off appearances since 2009, New England also joins them in the bottom two despite winning the Supporters’ Shield and the play offs in 2021.

Inter Miami need to win their final match against the New England Revolution on decision day to set the single season MLS points record.

They currently have 71 points and the record is 73 by the…… Revs.

Historical season by Inter Miami. pic.twitter.com/QZoTImTXNc

— MLS Moves (@MLSMoves) October 5, 2024

Standout Players of the Season (MLS Stats only)

Christian Benteke (DC United) - 23 goals and 5 assists in 29 games

Denis Bouanga (LAFC) - 19 goals and 10 assists in 31 games

Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew) - 19 goals and 9 assists in 26 games

Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati) - 14 goals and 16 assists in 31 games

Evander (Portland Timbers) - 15 goals and 14 assists in 26 games

Make that 23 goals on the season for Christian Benteke. 😤

Can anyone catch up to him for the Golden Boot pres. by Audi? 💬 pic.twitter.com/uVsljSM0Ii

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 6, 2024

MLS Play Off Predictions

Champions - Inter Miami (Eastern Conference Play Off Winners)

Runners up - Seattle Sounders (Western Conference Play Off Winners)

Dark Horses - Minnesota United

Biggest Disappointment - FC Cincinnati

Let the fight for the two remaining Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs spots begin. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/F6ITnMR3tK

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 6, 2024

End of Season Awards Predictions

MVP - Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)

Defender of the Year - Yeimar (Seattle Sounders)

Goalkeeper of the Year - Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC)

Newcomer of the Year - Gabriel Pec (LA Galaxy)

Young Player of the Year - Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake)

Coach of the Year - ‘Tata’ Martino (Inter Miami)

Nothing beats your support. 👏

Attendance crossed the 11 million mark this weekend, setting a new single-season high with 16 matches remaining: https://t.co/3SpANxQUHe pic.twitter.com/lLhNJk49Un

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 7, 2024