Inter Miami saluted Argentine star Lionel Messi‘s eighth Ballon d’Or on Friday, however their pleasant match to mark the achievement led to a 2-1 loss to MLS rivals New York Metropolis FC. The defeat, in a match between two groups lengthy out of the MLS championship operating, was only a footnote on a celebratory evening that started with Messi providing his due to followers for the welcome he’d acquired in Florida. Followers, a lot of them shouting “Messi! Messi!” in unison, almost crammed the DRV PNK stadium — even supposing the membership’s MLS season ended final month.
“Thanks for being right here, for this lovely tribute,” Messi stated after elevating the trophy he’d collected in Paris final month. “I’ve been right here for a short while, but it surely looks like quite a lot of time.
“I wish to thank all of the folks of Miami, not solely those that are right here, however within the metropolis basically, for the therapy I and my household have acquired throughout this time.
“They confirmed me quite a lot of affection, they made me really feel at residence.”
The 36-year-old celebrity acquired a rapturous welcome when he arrived at Inter Miami in July and powered the struggling franchise to the Leagues Cup title in a match with MLS and Mexican league golf equipment in August.
He performed his first MLS common season match for Miami on August 26 as a second-half substitute, scoring a aim in Inter’s 2-0 win at New York Purple Bulls to snap an 11-match winless streak.
However nagged by a late-season leg damage, Messi was unable to elevate Miami from the league cellar into the MLS Cup playoffs.
Even so, he has electrified the US league, his enchantment underscored by a spike in jersey gross sales and an increase in gross sales of MLS season go viewing subscriptions in addition to ticket gross sales wherever Miami performed.
Followers have been chanting for him once more late in Friday’s match, however he was unable to provide an equalizer in a contest received by NYCFC with objectives from Talles Magno and Julian Fernandez.
Messi’s newest Ballon d’Or rewarded exploits achieved properly earlier than his transfer to MLS, particularly his inspirational performances eventually yr’s World Cup in Qatar the place he scored seven objectives and was named the match’s greatest participant as he carried Argentina to victory.
However Messi stated he was aiming to construct on Miami’s Leagues Cup crown subsequent season — when his membership will defend that title and compete within the US Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup along with their MLS marketing campaign.
“I had little question that we have been going to have an excellent time, that we have been going to take pleasure in ourselves and at this time I’ve even much less doubts that subsequent yr goes to be significantly better,” he stated.
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