Lionel Messi suffered an embarrassment when Inter Miami lost on a special night organized for him. The MLS hosted a special friendly to celebrate Lionel Messi on Friday night, with fans attending to see his Ballon d'Or trophy in person.
However, Inter Miami ended up losing the match 2-1 to New York City FC in a tribute game organized to honor Lionel Messi's record eighth Ballon d'Or success.
New York held Messi's Inter
When Miami was knocked out of the MLS Playoffs, fans assumed they had seen the last of Messi until 2024, that was until MLS organized a friendly 'Noche d'Or' to give him a proper celebration.
Messi presented his Ballon d'Or trophy to the crowd and gave a speech at DRV PNK Stadium before the game began. With the Playoffs in action, Miami agreed to play NYCFC, as they had also been eliminated during the regular season.
However, they overcame a Miami team that fielded Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to kill the atmosphere in Fort Lauderdale.
After a quiet first half, NYCFC forward Talles Magno put the visitors ahead just before the break, keeping himself composed by dribbling past Miami defender Kamal Miller before finding the far corner.
But very quickly the second goal arrived, as Julian Fernandez scored a powerful shot two minutes into the second half, before Robbie Robinson scored for Miami late in the game.
It may have been a friendly that had no competitive ties, but it was a tough loss to take on a night dedicated to Messi. Lionel Messi has made an instant impact in MLS since his arrival at Inter Miami.
Helping the club to cup glory and leading them up the table, Messi is once again the most talked about player in the game.
Congratulations ME♾SI 🏆#LION8LdOr | @ballondor pic.twitter.com/cpOiFNiIjD
- Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 30, 2023
More Stars Looking to Continue Shining
Fernandez, a 19-year-old Argentine talent, stole the show for Messi as his compatriot looked on in disbelief at what was happening. It showed that while they may have the best player in the world, their squad still needs work if they are to compete next season. The ex-Barcelona reunion is about to grow as Luis Suarez has agreed to sign for the team, according to several media reports.
The former Liverpool and Barcelona player terminated his two-year contract signed in December 2022 with Brazilian side Gremio to join Miami for the 2024 MLS season, and on Thursday night he showed owner David Beckham exactly what to expect.
The Uruguayan striker scored a hat-trick in the second half of 19 minutes for Gremio, earning them a 4-3 win over title rivals Botafogo.
It was a sour note to end 2023 for Messi, but fans appreciated his words before kickoff on Friday.
Messi expressed his gratitude for the presence at the beautiful ceremony, highlighting how amazing it is to share that moment with everyone present. His time there, although brief, left a feeling of having been there for much longer.
From the beginning, the player exclaimed that he never doubted that they would enjoy their stay there, and now he is sure that next year will be even more rewarding. They will continue to enjoy themselves, add titles, and he hopes that they will continue to support them, as they have done since his arrival.
The experience has been incredible, and in the coming year they will face important tournaments together. The player thanked everyone and wished them a good night.
