When Messi proudly displayed his 8th Golden Ball to fans at DRV PNK Stadium in Miami, USA, the stands, which could hold up to 21,000 spectators, were filled with excitement. As he made his way to the center circle, El Pulga effortlessly held the prestigious award in just one hand.
Messi proudly hoisted the Golden Ball in front of a massive crowd of Inter Miami supporters, capturing the moment in a photo snapped by the AP. Following a round of handshakes with his teammates, the captain of Inter Miami lifted the coveted Golden Ball skyward, giving it a triumphant twirl. The energy in the stadium was palpable as fans cheered, witnessing a historic moment as a player clinched the prestigious award while representing an American team for the very first time.
Messi expressed to Inter Miami supporters, “Even though I’ve only been here briefly, I already feel like a part of the team. I believe that Inter Miami will step up their game next season and bring home some titles.”
Co-Presidents Jorge Mas and Jose Mas, alongside Major League Soccer Director Don Garber, celebrated alongside Lionel Messi as he proudly displayed his 11th Golden Ball award in a photo (Photo: AP). David Beckham, as Co-President of Inter Miami, arranged a friendly match on November 11th to honor Lionel Messi and his latest achievement. Unfortunately, Inter Miami suffered a loss on their home field at DRV PNK stadium.
Messi and the rest of the team gave it their all in the game against New York City. Despite having several chances, the Argentine player was unable to capitalize on them and find the back of the net.
Messi showcased his talent and determination in the friendly game against New York City (Photo: AP). Despite a valiant effort from Inter Miami, they fell behind to their opponents after Telles Magno’s precise shot in the 41st minute and Julian Fernandez’s impressive curling effort in the 47th minute. Robbie Robinson managed to score a goal in the 81st minute to narrow the gap to 1-2. In a dramatic moment in injury time, Messi had a chance to level the score with a free kick, but unfortunately, his shot hit the crossbar. This missed opportunity sealed the fate of Inter Miami, who ultimately lost 1-2 to New York City in the match’s final moments.
Messi and the rest of the team faced a tough 1-2 defeat against New York City in their recent game (Photo: AP). Following this result, Messi is set to take the Golden Ball trophy back to Argentina, where he will proudly display it to fans at La Bombonera stadium before their upcoming match against Uruguay in the South American 2026 World Cup qualifiers on November 17th. Later on, Argentina will have an eagerly anticipated showdown against their arch-rivals Brazil.
