Lionel Messi held the Ballon d'Or over his head as fireworks lit up the sky to bring a pregame ceremony to a close. And with that, Inter Miami CF got to celebrate the game's greatest player one more time in 2023.

Messi was on the field for his Major League Soccer club on Friday night for a friendly against New York City FC, a match put together to commemorate his eighth time winning the Ballon d'Or -- presented annually to the game's top player -- at a black-tie ceremony in Paris last month. No other player has won that award more than five times.

Messi played all the match against NYCFC but Miami lost 2-1. Talles Magno and Julián Fernández scored for New York. Miami's substitute, Robert Robinson, gave the home team its only goal with ten minutes left.

Messi -- carrying the trophy in his left hand -- walked to midfield on a gold carpet laid out across the pitch, where MLS Commissioner Don Garber was among those awaiting his arrival for a brief pregame ceremony. He embraced Garber, Inter Miami owners Jorge and Jose Mas, then hoisted the trophy as the crowd roared.

"It's beautiful to share it with you all," Messi said. "I've been here for a short time, but it seems like a long tim[/b]e."

Here's how big a deal the moment was: Even Garber pulled out his cell phone to take a picture of the moment.

"[b]You, Inter Miami fans, have the best player who's ever played the game," Garber said. "The winner of his eighth Ballon d'Or, the guy who lifted as captain the Leagues Cup for your team, thank you Leo for your belief in Major League Soccer and making your club and your league a league of choice."

It was a perfect bookend to Messi's first four months officially as part of club: Year 1 started with an on-field party and ended with another celebration with a look ahead to Year 2.

"He's the main star of this match and we want to join him celebrating his eighth Ballon d'Or," Inter Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino said. "It's an opportunity also for us to compete. Even if it's a friendly it's an opportunity for the people and the fans to see Leo and his teammates on the field and say goodbye to the year."

Messi stayed on the pitch for the whole match against NYCFC but Miami lost 2-1. Talles Magno and Julián Fernández scored for New York. Miami's substitute, Robbie Robinson, gave the home team its only goal with ten minutes left.

It was a bonus chance at a farewell, at least on the home turf. Inter Miami's home schedule was completed more than three weeks ago, with Messi not playing that night - he had just gotten back from a pair of World Cup qualifiers with Argentina.

Inter Miami was supposed to play a pair of games in China earlier this month, only to see that trip fall through because of what the team called "unforeseen circumstances." When that fell through, Inter Miami settled on another option - getting NYCFC to play the exhibition. Messi has been training with the team for much of the last two weeks, arriving at the team facility the morning after getting the Ballon d'Or in Paris.

"I would like to thank all the people of Miami, not just the ones here in the stadium," Messi said. "The treatment for myself and my family ... you've made me feel at home."

Messi will likely play at least twice more in 2023 - Argentina has World Cup qualifying games against Uruguay (in Buenos Aires) on Nov. 16 and Brazil (in Rio de Janeiro) on Nov. 21.

The team will likely begin training for 2024 in January, with the MLS regular season possibly starting in late February. It will be a hectic year for Inter Miami, which won Leagues Cup -- its first-ever trophy -- shortly after Messi signed with the club this summer. The club will play in that tournament along with the U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup in addition to the MLS slate in 2024.

SOURCE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMuY-_2Gu2U?si=IeeJEDo_QNrS78Le


Nlfpmod mynd44 Frontpage boss

Greatest of all time. Tested and trusted in 3 different clubs where he won ballon d or.

"Leo Messi deserves it. In terms of individual performances at a tournament, I've never seen a footballer play as consistently as this guy. You have to bear in mind that he's never played for clubs that I like, which proves that I'm serious."

Toni Kroos

"It wouldn’t be logical to not give the Ballon d’Or to the best player in history in the year that he won the World Cup."

Eden Hazard

"If you ask me who I think will win, I will say Messi will win it thanks to his World Cup triumph. It still has an impact."

Norway boss Stale Solbakken

“It was rigged for Messi”

Penaldians😂😂

Lionel Messi Presents his record 8th Ballon d'Or at Inter Miami Stadium!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t33kPKEt5o

This is real reception. Not like the kangaroo training ground reception given to Messi at psg after winning world cup. PSG really disrespected messi but he no even send them. He just dey do him things.


Whether any Tapnaldo crew members like it or not, MESSI IS THE BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME. If Tapnaldo was humble and his fans accepted reality and fact this is not supposed to be a hard pill to swallow but they made it hard pill to swallow for themselves and we will be happy to always choke them with the fact.

The best I ever seen