Inter Miami fans had a unique chance to witness the Ballon d’Or award up close for the first time, as Lionel Messi presented it to them at the DRV PNK Stadium on November 11.
The club arranged a celebration named Noche d’Or to honor Messi’s historic eighth Ballon d’Or victory in his career.
Club co-owner David Beckham presented Lionel Messi with the Golden Ball at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on October 30. The Argentine surpassed the treble-winning Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, his teammate at Paris Saint-Germain whom he outperformed in the World Cup final.
Messi showcased his brilliance for Argentina at the Qatar World Cup, earning the tournament’s best player award and finishing as the second-highest goalscorer, trailing only Mbappe.
In front of an ecstatic crowd in South Florida, he proudly displayed the Ballon d’Or before their friendly match against New York City FC.
This is likely to be Messi’s final club game of the season, as Tata Martino’s team did not qualify for the playoffs, and their league action will only resume next year. Messi has already dismissed the idea of a short-term loan return to Europe.
Next week, he will represent his country in matches against Uruguay and Brazil as they strive to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.