Inter Miami put on a show to commemorate Lionel Messi’s record seventh Ballon d’Or triumph. The World Cup champion went down a red carpet to the centre of the pitch at DRV PNK Stadium and showed the historic trophy to everyone in attendance.
Lionel Messi rewrote his name into the record books by winning the Ballon d’Or for the seventh time at a spectacular ceremony in Paris. This honour comes on the heels of a stellar year for the playmaker. Messi played a key role in Argentina’s long-awaited World Cup victory in Qatar in 2022.
He led Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years, a historic feat for La Albiceleste. His stats were beyond anything but remarkable (10 goals and seven assists in seven games). Messi also scored twice in the final, which Argentina won on penalties after the game finished 3-3.
Messi’s path to this historic Ballon d’Or triumph began with a good individual season with Paris Saint-Germain. During the 2022/23 season, he demonstrated his skill and longevity by producing 21 goals and 20 assists in 41 appearances, helping PSG win the league title.
Messi has completely altered the trajectory of Inter Miami since his arrival. having won the first Leagues Cup and leading them from the bottom of MLS to a playoff club . If the Argentine had avoided injury in September, they would very certainly have made the postseason. Messi was also the first MLS player to win the Ballon d’Or.
Despite the joyous tone of the evening, the match actually meandered towards a more stormy conclusion. New York City FC won 2-1, despite boiling curbs and Lionel Messi’s squandered opportunity. In the waning stages of the game, the Argentine icon failed to convert a free kick. Messi will now travel to Argentina for FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil.