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

Lionel Messi triumphantly held the Ballon d’Or aloft as a stunning display of fireworks illuminated the sky, marking the start of a pregame ceremony. And with that powerful and captivating moment, Inter Miami CF had the opportunity to honor the greatest player in the game in 2023.

Messi took the field for his Major League Soccer club on Friday night in a friendly match against New York City FC. This exhibition had been organized to commemorate his record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or win, which he received at a prestigious ceremony in Paris. No other player has achieved this honor more than five times.

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Messi, carrying the revered trophy, made his way to the midfield on a golden carpet laid out across the pitch. MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Inter Miami owners Jorge and Jose Mas eagerly awaited his arrival for a brief pregame ceremony. After embracing them, Messi raised the trophy as the crowd erupted into cheers.

“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 time.”

The significance of the moment was evident as even Garber pulled out his cell phone to capture the moment in a photograph. “You, Inter Miami fans, have the best player who’s ever played the game,” Garber declared. “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.”

This was a fitting conclusion to Messi’s first official four months with the club. Year 1 began with on-field celebrations and ended with another grand acknowledgment, signaling the start of Year 2.

“He’s the main star of this match, and we want to join him in celebrating his eighth Ballon d’Or,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino expressed. “It’s an opportunity for us to compete and for the people and fans to see Leo and his teammates on the field and bid farewell to the year.”

This was a bonus opportunity to say farewell, at least on home turf. It had been over three weeks since Messi played in Inter Miami’s last home game, as he had recently returned from World Cup qualifiers with Argentina.

“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, who hadn’t played a match since Inter Miami’s MLS finale on Oct. 21, 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 commencing in late February. It will be a busy year for Inter Miami, which won the Leagues Cup – its first-ever trophy – shortly after Messi signed with the club this summer. The club will also participate in the U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup in addition to the MLS games in 2024.

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

When asked this week what still drives Messi, Martino emphasized the level of competition that Messi encounters in practice as the best answer.

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

There are GOAT – the oft-used acronym for Greatest Of All Time – debates in plenty of sports. Soccer might still have a debate. But eight Ballon d’Or trophies sure swing the argument Messi’s way.

“I believe it’s over,” said Inter Miami forward Benjamin Cremaschi, the 18-year-old player. “He’s proved that for the last 18 years. I think he is the best player in the world, the best player in history.”