Lionel Messi’s 8th Ballon d’Or trophy celebrated by Inter Miami in exhibition match

Lionel Messi held the Ballon d’Or over his head as fireworks lit up the sky to deliver a pregame ceremony to a detailed. And with that, Inter Miami CF received to have fun the sport’s best participant another time in 2023.

Messi was on the sector for his Major League Soccer membership on Friday evening for a pleasant towards New York City FC, a match put collectively to commemorate his eighth time successful the Ballon d’Or — offered yearly to the sport’s prime participant — at a black-tie ceremony in Paris final month. No different participant has gained that award greater than 5 occasions.

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Messi performed all of the match towards NYCFC however Miami misplaced 2-1. Talles Magno and Julián Fernández scored for New York. Miami’s substitute, Robert Robinson, gave the house group its solely aim with ten minutes left.

Messi — carrying the trophy in his left hand — walked to midfield on a gold carpet laid out throughout the pitch, the place MLS Commissioner Don Garber was amongst these awaiting his arrival for a short pregame ceremony. He embraced Garber, Inter Miami house owners Jorge and Jose Mas, then hoisted the trophy as the group roared.

“It’s beautiful to share it with you all,” Messi stated. “I’ve been here for a short time, but it seems like a long time.”

Here’s how massive a deal the second was: Even Garber pulled out his mobile phone to take an image of the second.

“You, Inter Miami fans, have the best player who’s ever played the game,” Garber stated. “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.”

🗣️M E S S I 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/sQeXwFdUMO

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) November 11, 2023

It was an ideal bookend to Messi’s first 4 months formally as a part of membership: Year 1 began with an on-field occasion and ended with one other celebration with a stay up for 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 stated. “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 entire match towards NYCFC however Miami misplaced 2-1. Talles Magno and Julián Fernández scored for New York. Miami’s substitute, Robbie Robinson, gave the house group its solely aim with ten minutes left.

It was a bonus likelihood at a farewell, at the very least on the house turf. Inter Miami’s house schedule was accomplished greater than three weeks in the past, with Messi not enjoying that evening – he had simply gotten again from a pair of World Cup qualifiers with Argentina.

Inter Miami was speculated to play a pair of video games in China earlier this month, solely to see that journey fall by way of due to what the group known as “unforeseen circumstances.” When that fell by way of, Inter Miami settled on another choice – getting NYCFC to play the exhibition. Messi has been coaching with the group for a lot of the final two weeks, arriving on the group 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 stated. “The treatment for myself and my family … you’ve made me feel at home.”

Messi will probably play at the very least twice extra in 2023 – Argentina has World Cup qualifying video games towards Uruguay (in Buenos Aires) on Nov. 16 and Brazil (in Rio de Janeiro) on Nov. 21.

The group will probably start coaching for 2024 in January, with the MLS common season probably beginning in late February. It might be a busy 12 months for Inter Miami, which gained Leagues Cup — its first-ever trophy — shortly after Messi signed with the membership this summer time. The membership will play in that match together with the U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup in addition to the MLS slate in 2024.

“I have no doubt…that next year will be much better,” Messi stated. “We will continue enjoying and try to win more titles, and I hope that you are with me.”

Martino was requested this week what nonetheless drives Messi. He stated the extent of competitors that Messi has in apply can be the most effective reply.

“If you saw those, you wouldn’t even have to ask the question,” Martino stated. “You would just see right away what I mean.”

There are GOAT – the oft-used acronym for Greatest Of All Time – debates in loads of sports activities. Basketball has Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Golf has Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus. Men’s tennis has Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic. Some sports activities make it simple: Recency biases however, it is arduous to argue towards Simone Biles in gymnastics, Michael Phelps in males’s swimming or Katie Ledecky in girls’s swimming.

Soccer would possibly nonetheless have a debate. But eight Ballon d’Or trophies certain swing the argument Messi’s approach.

Of the talk, Inter Miami ahead Benjamin Cremaschi stated, “I believe it’s over.” The 18-year-old Cremashi wasn’t even 2 months outdated when Messi scored his first official aim for Barcelona in 2005. “He’s proved that for the last 18 years. I think he is the best player in the world, the best player in history. And I don’t know if many people disagree. It’s obviously a little bit biased, but from what I’ve seen, I haven’t seen anyone better yet.”