Lionel Messi's 8th Ballon d'Or trophy celebrated by Inter Miami in exhibition match - ESPN

Lionel Messi held the Ballon d'Or over his head as fireworks lit up the sky to bring a pregame ceremony to a close. And with that, Inter Miami CF got to celebrate the game's greatest player one more time in 2023.

Messi was on the field for his Major League Soccer club on Friday night for a friendly against New York City FC, a match put together to commemorate his eighth time winning the Ballon d'Or — presented annually to the game's top player — at a black-tie ceremony in Paris last month. No other player has won that award more than five times.

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Messi — carrying the trophy in his left hand — walked to midfield on a gold carpet laid out across the pitch, where MLS Commissioner Don Garber was among those awaiting his arrival for a brief pregame ceremony. He embraced Garber, Inter Miami owners Jorge and Jose Mas, then hoisted the trophy as the crowd roared.

«It's beautiful to share it with you all,» Messi said. «I've been here for a short time, but it seems like a long time.»

Here's how big a deal the moment was: Even Garber pulled out his cell phone to take a picture of the moment.

«You, Inter Miami fans, have the best player who's ever played the game,» Garber said. «The winner of his eighth Ballon d'Or, the guy who lifted as captain the Leagues Cup for your team, thank you Leo for your belief in Major League Soccer and making your club and your league a league of choice.»

It was a perfect bookend to Messi's first four months officially as part of club: Year 1 started with an on-field party and ended with another celebration with a look ahead to Year 2.

«He's the main star of this match and we want to join him celebrating his eighth Ballon d'Or,» Inter Miami coach