Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or celebration

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi’s first season with Inter Miami and Major League Soccer is officially over.

Messi shared his eighth Ballon d’Or award and thanked Inter Miami fans in a short pre-match celebration ahead of Friday’s friendly match against New York City FC at DRV PNK Stadium.

The fans in attendance chanted “Vamos, Messi” (Let’s go, Messi) in the second half, and Messi had the opportunity to score a free kick from about 25 yards out to tie the game in the final seconds.

But New York City FC spoiled the night, winning the friendly match 2-1, in the first match for both teams since their MLS regular seasons ended without playoff spots on October 21.

Tonight was less about the result and more about celebrating Messi’s impact during his short four months with Major League Soccer.

“For me, it’s a great thing to share with you,” Messi said after collecting the eighth Gold Cup in his career – more than any other player.

“I’ve been here for a short time, but it feels like a long time. Like I said at the beginning, I never doubted that we would enjoy our time here and now I have no doubt that next year will be even better.

Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has counted the days – 122 days – since Messi, his wife Antonella and their children arrived at a small airport a few meters from the club’s stadium.

Mas described Messi as “the greatest player of all time” and “the greatest No. 10 player in the world.”

“This soccer club was created based on a dream, a dream that South Florida would host the greatest soccer team this country has ever seen,” Maas said. “It was our ambition and our goal that when soccer is talked about in America, people think and believe in Miami.”

Since Messi joined the club, Inter Miami’s popularity has skyrocketed, along with the sale of the pink and black Inter Miami No. 10 jersey and viewership on Apple TV worldwide.

Messi helped Inter Miami win the League Cup in August, the club’s first championship in its short history. Inter Miami finished second in the US Open Cup, but failed to reach the MLS post-season.

Messi scored 11 goals and assisted a further five times in 14 appearances for Inter Miami, but the club finished their season without a win in their last seven matches (not including the friendly match).

Although Messi’s season did not end successfully with Inter Miami, it was an exciting one for MLS.

“You, Inter Miami fans, have the best player to ever play the game,” Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said during the celebration.

“Thank you, Lionel, for believing in Major League Soccer and making your club and our league the league of choice.”

Messi will join Argentina in two more World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay in Buenos Aires on November 16, and Brazil at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on November 21.

Messi is not expected to return to Inter Miami until they begin preparations for next season in January with a grueling schedule, highlighted by the CONCACAF Champions League, League Cup, US Open Cup and the MLS season. It is possible that Messi will also participate in the Copa America with Argentina next year as well.

“We will continue to enjoy and win titles, and I hope you can support us as you have done since my arrival,” Messi said. “It was amazing, and next year we have important tournaments to face together.”

Here’s what Messi told Inter Miami fans before the match (translated via the team):

“Good evening. First of all, thank you, thank you for being here, thank you for this beautiful party. For me, it’s a very beautiful thing to share with you. I’ve only been here for a short time but it really feels like I’ve been here for a long time.” .

“I want to thank all the people of Miami, not just here at the stadium, but in the city in general, for the way you’ve treated me, not only with me, but also with my family over the last few months. You’ve shown it.” She loved me so much and made me feel at home, this is a city with a lot of Latinos, which makes me feel very comfortable, and we get along very well, so thank you very much.

“As I just said, we haven’t been together for long but we’ve already achieved something really important, which is the first title for this club, for our club. It’s something very important because it’s what we came looking for, because we needed it. “As a club and we as players after what we were doing in that the time. It’s important for what comes next year, because it gives us the possibility of playing in another important tournament (CONCACAF Champions Cup). As I said at the beginning, I had no doubt that we were going to have a good time, that we were going to enjoy it, and today I have no doubt, just as I had no doubt at the beginning, let alone that now, that next day the year will be much better.

“We will continue to have fun and we will continue to win titles and I hope that you will accompany us as you have accompanied us throughout these months that I have been here because the truth is that we need your support, it was a wonderful thing to have. “You are close. As I said before, next year we have important things coming and we have to do it together. Thank you very much. Good night.”

Messi could only look at the net in disbelief. This time he tried to score with his right foot. The result was the same as it was most of the night.

Messi’s kick went out of the net in the 88th minute^y minute.

He will probably play this entire friendly match.

Inter Miami is on board.

Substitute Robbie Robinson scored with a left shoe into the right side of the net in the 80th minute^y Minutes, and this match could see Messi play long distance.

With 10 minutes to go, Messi could finish this game off with the hope of scoring a special goal as he has been watching for most of the night.

Messi was alone and on the attack, but he was unable to give fans the magical moment they came and watched in the friendly match on Friday night.

Messi’s left boot was blocked by New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese again in the match.

Messi’s first shot in the second half came from the left side of the net, but it almost hit the net in the 52nd minute.

It only took two minutes into the second half for NYCFC to double their lead. Julian Fernandes curled a left-footed shot from the middle of the box into the top left corner of the net to give New York City FC a 2-0 lead in the 48th minute of Messi’s festive friendly.

Thales Magno, who scored the first goal, assisted on the second goal.

Messi is in the game, but how much time will he play is the question in the second half of this match.

It’s Messi’s night. But that doesn’t stop New York City from spoiling things.

Talles Magno’s left shoe is in 42^{Second abbreviation} The minute gave NYCFC a 1-0 lead.

The crowd here at DRV PNK Stadium was quiet before the end of the first half.

Messi’s best chance came in the 27th minute^y One minute later, when he shot the ball from close range – for him, at least.

Instead, Messi ended up falling on his butt after his attempt.

Messi received a pass inside the box and made an uncharacteristic mistake in how to kick it into the net. It was as if Messi scored the goal before he actually did.

He ended up on the pitch, helped by the NYCFC goalkeeper as play continued – hey, it’s a friendly match, after all.

Shortly before 33^{Research and development} In the minute, Messi fired another shot that went into the stands of Inter Miami.

Fans get louder every time Messi touches the ball in this match.

Messi missed his first shot on goal in the 10th minute^y The minute, a left shot barely rose above the net into the crowd. But the fans in attendance here are keen to score a memorable goal that they can capture on their mobile phones.

About a minute later, Messi calmly shot the ball on goal, but the New York goalkeeper was able to jump and hit it with his right hand. Messi appeared smiling after missing the opportunity.

At 20^y In the final minute, Messi attempted to weave between no fewer than six NYCFC defenders before the ball hit an opposing player behind him.

What a surprise. Of course, Messi is in Inter Miami’s starting lineup for the friendly match to honor his eighth Ballon d’Or on Friday night.

Here is the starting lineup for the Inter Miami match:

Time, TV channel for Messi, Inter Miami vs New York City match?

The match starts at eight o’clock in the evening, and is broadcast on the channel Camel.

Zidane says Messi is ‘pure magic’ in Adidas chat

It turns out that Zinedine Zidane did little more than watch Messi play during the Inter Miami match in September.

Messi and Zidane sat down together for a lengthy chat, which was posted on Adidas’ YouTube channel this week. It is a real treat for football fans.

Zidane told Messi: “It is unfortunate that we could not play together.” “This is the right moment for me to pass the ball to you.”

Zidane also told Messi: “Today is a very important day for me because I can tell him how much I admire him… I think it is magic, pure magic.”

Watch the interview here:

Martino said that Messi may not play the entire friendly match against New York City.

“I’m not sure if he’ll play the full 90 minutes, but he will play,” Martino said this week.

While the match serves as the final preparation for Inter Miami’s season, it could also serve as a warm-up for a pair of 2026 World Cup qualifiers with Argentina later this month.

The friendly match against NYCFC, which the club has dubbed Noche d’Or, will see Messi honored on the pitch at 7:45pm before kick-off.

Messi, Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas and MLS Commissioner Don Garber are expected to speak. Messi will also be presented with the Ballon d’Or award to fans at the DRV PNK Stadium.

Messi will join the Argentine national team to play two more World Cup qualifiers this month.

Argentina will play Uruguay in Buenos Aires on November 16, and Brazil will play at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on November 21.

Now healthy with no games with Inter Miami, Messi could see significant playing time in both matches.

Messi did not score any goals but played the entire match in his final match for Inter Miami, a 1-0 loss to Charlotte FC to end the MLS season on October 21.

But he returned to form in his last match for Argentina, scoring twice and playing the full 93 minutes in the match against Peru on 17 October.

Messi was absent from the field due to an injury to his right leg, which caused him to miss six matches with Inter Miami in the last month of the American League season.

Inter Miami friendly replaces China tour

Messi and Inter Miami were scheduled to travel to play two friendly matches against top Chinese teams in China earlier this month, but their tour of China was ultimately cancelled.

Instead, they will end their 2023 campaign against New York City FC.

“We were really looking forward to playing some friendly matches, but due to circumstances that did not depend on us, we could not go to China,” Martino said this week. “However, this is a good opportunity.”