Inter Miami took the field for the final time in 2023 to celebrate their superstar and his latest achievement.
The MLS side honored Lionel Messi's record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or with a friendly match against fellow U.S. club New York City FC on Friday, with the event dubbed "Noche d'Or" or "Golden Night".
The Argentine superstar presented his trophy to the Fort Lauderdale crowd in a pre-match ceremony, but couldn't score a goal to mark the occasion, with Miami falling 2-1.
Brazilian young gun Talles Magno opened the scoring late in the first half for the visitors before teenager Julián Fernández added another early in the second period.
Substitute Robert Robinson pulled one back for Miami with ten minutes remaining, but they were unable to salvage a draw.
MORE: Recap the 2023 Ballon d'Or festivities as Lionel Messi won his eighth trophy
While Messi's latest Ballon d'Or achievement was front and center, the game also served as a way to keep the superstar No. 10 match-fit ahead of Argentina's pair of World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil, slated for next week.
For this reason, he wasn't expected to play the full match against NYCFC. However, the 36-year-old was on the field for the full 90 minutes and even had the opportunity to level the scores with a free kick in the dying stages.
Inter Miami had previously scheduled a pair of friendlies in China to serve this purpose, but those were cancelled by the tour promoter due to "unforeseen circ*mstances in China".
This gave the club the chance to arrange a fixture to celebrate Messi's latest trophy and stay close to home prior to his departure for international duty.
The Sporting News followed Inter Miami vs. NYCFC friendly live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights.
Inter Miami vs NYCFC final score, result
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Inter Miami | 1 | Robinson (81') |
| NYCFC | 2 | Magno (43'),Fernández(48') |
Kickoff: 8p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Location: DRV PNK Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)
Starting lineups:
Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left):1. Callender (GK) — 2. Yedlin (Allen, 60'), 15. Sailor (McVey, 60'), 31. Miller, 18. Alba — 8. Gomez (Robinson, 75'), 5. Busquets, 41. D. Ruiz (Aviles, 75') — 10. Messi, 11. Farias (Stefanelli, 60'), 9. Campana
NYCFC (4-3-3, right to left):49. Freese (GK) — 35. Ilenič (Grav, 46'), 13. Martins, 5. Risa, 22. O'Toole — 10. S. Rodríguez, 15. Perea, 55. Keaton — 11. J. Fernández, 9. Bakrar, 43. Magno (Martinez, 74')
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Inter Miami vs NYCFC live updates, highlights, commentary
FULL TIME:Inter Miami 1 - 2 NYCFC
NYCFC secure an impressive victory, holding on despite a late surge from Messi and Inter Miami.
The home side started with great energy but couldn't finish off a number of solid chances.
Rather, it was New York who were clinical with their counter-attacks, scoring on either side of half-time in a well-rounded showing.
90+4 min: Messi earns a free-kick in the dying stages, and after minutes of anticipation, fires over the crossbar. Not to be for the reigning Ballon d'Or champion.
90+1 min:One minute of additional time has been signalled by the fourth official.
90th min: Tempers are beginning to flare a little on-field after a foul near Miami's goal. No cards are dished out.
88th min: Miami are pushing for the equaliser, and Messi is unsurprisingly at the heart of it. The No. 10 makes a speedy run through the middle of the pitch but pushes his shot narrowly wide.
81st min: GOAL, INTER MIAMI! We have a game now! Robinson collects a perfectly weighted ball down the left from Busquets and fires across the face of the goal, scoring off the post.
Busquets puts Robinson in behind the back line for our first goal of the night 👏👏#MIAvNYCFC | 1-2 pic.twitter.com/ecfnXUYqla
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) November 11, 2023
78th min: Chance, Inter Miami! The home side are starting to turn the heat back up.Robinson — who was just subbed on — hits a wicked long-range effort, but it is saved by an agile Freese in goal.
74th min: Magno's night has come to an end, replaced by Martinez. He has been a real bright spot for NYCFC, bagging the opening goal and being a constant link-up threat in advanced areas.
70th min: Chance, NYCFC! It should be 3-0 to the visitors, but a huge chance goes begging. O'Toole delivers a fizzing low cross into the area butFernández inexplicably watches it go past him.
66th min: Some players are understandably beginning to look a little lethargic. NYCFC are implementing a low block as they look to see out this two-goal lead, and Miami are struggling to break them down.
60th min: Three substitutions made by Miami as they look to shake things up here. Stefanelli will look to spark their attack, while McVey and Allen freshen up their defense.
55th min: NYCFC are keen to add a third here. Their latest counter-attack involves Magno again, but Bakrar is unable to finish from a tight angle.
52nd min: Chance, Inter Miami! Messi controls the ball beautifully from a lobbed pass before bursting into space and narrowly missing the goal with a curling effort.
48th min: GOAL, NYCFC! What a start to the second period from the visitors!Magno delivers a deft touch into the feet ofFernández, who executes a stunning strike into the top left corner.
Watch it again and again... 🤯 pic.twitter.com/sxYdtlWf0T
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) November 11, 2023
SECOND HALF: We're back underway! Can Messi find a goal to celebrate his historic Ballon d'Or achievement?
HALF TIME: An interesting 45 minutes, with Miami finding themselves 1-0 down despite having the majority of possession and numerous good chances. Counter-attacking was the name of the game for NYCFC, and it was the source of their late goal.
43rd min: GOAL, NYCFC!New York score the opener! The ball falls to Magno after a slight deflection from a cross, before the 21-year-old Brazilian smartly fires across the goal and finds the back of the net.
La magia de @talles_magno2 🪄 #DaleNewYork pic.twitter.com/QXWLO19c7F
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) November 11, 2023
40th min: Some really tidy work in the box from Gomez, but Miami are still searching for the opener.
36th min: NYCFC are beginning to work into this game nicely, earning their third corner in as many minutes in a nice attacking flurry. No clear-cut chances, though.
34th min: Another opportunity for Miami, who break at pace following a NYCFC corner. After a fortunate rebound, the ball is passed to the feet of Messi, who skies his long-range attempt.
28th min: Chance, Inter Miami! No prizes for guessing who was involved again... Messi receives the ball off a zippy give-and-go but scuffs his lines just metres out from goal and uncharacteristically gets his own feet tied up. Gomez's following effort is then blocked.
20th min: There is no denying that Messi still has it. He drops deep to find the ball, executes a smooth one-two pass, and then wiggles his way through defenders in signature style before firing off a shot.
17th min: The intensity and pace of the match still haven't dropped off. There is plenty of space in the middle of the park, exposed a few times already by NYCFC's Fernández.
11th min: Chance, Inter Miami! It's Messi again! The Argentine is fed by Faris and gets a shot off in tight space, but it is saved by Callender and grazes the post.
10th min: Chance, Inter Miami! Alba continues to be afforded space on the left, and NYCFC nearly pay the price. The Spaniard whips the ball into the feet of Messi, who dances around defenders before his shot is deflected behind for a corner, narrowly missing the goal.
6th min: Miami have re-gained control of this fast-paced match, with Alba creating multiple chances on the wing. Just a handful of touches for Messi so far, and the crowds erupt with noise whenever he gets involved.
2nd min: Chance, NYCFC! O'Toole delivers a great ball down the left side to the feet of Fernández, whose shot is saved by Callender. The ball falls toMagno, but the youngster misses the target from outside the box.
1st min: A confident start from Miami, withGomez displaying some crafty footwork to create space down the left.
KICKOFF: We're underway atDRV PNK Stadium!
Inter Miami vs. NYCFC: Pre-match commentary, analysis, and more
10 mins to kickoff: Messi has presented his eighth Ballon d'Or trophy to the crowd in Fort Lauderdale, followed by a brief speech in his native Spanish.
Messi: "Para mi es algo hermoso poder compartirlo (el Balón de Oro) con ustedes" 🇦🇷🌟 pic.twitter.com/CoHqECZ5eR
— MLS Español (@MLSes) November 11, 2023
Leo Messi presents the Ballon d'Or in front of Inter Miami's fans 🏆 pic.twitter.com/NYM2aunk92
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 11, 2023
15 mins to kickoff: Both sides have announced their starting line-ups, with Lionel Messi named to start for Inter Miami. He will be joined by former Barcelona teammates Alba and Busquets on the field. As for NYCFC, they have put out a young and strong starting XI, including 18-year-old Slovenian defenderMitja Ilenič.
Friday night lights lineup👏#MIAvNYCFC | 8PM ET | Tune in live using #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/dTMm4ObotE pic.twitter.com/AYq5qZZFAC
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) November 11, 2023
30 mins to kickoff: Warm-ups are underway atDRV PNK Stadium. The pre-match ceremony is set to begin shortly.
45 mins to kickoff: Messi isn't the only superstar currently plying his trade at Inter Miami — the Argentine is joined in Florida by former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Now, there is a chance that another reunion is on the cards for next season, with reports Messi will be able to link up again with Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez. Earlier this week, Miami agreed to a deal with Grêmio for Suárez, per ESPN.
The veteran is enjoying another strong season despite having to navigate a number of knee-related injuries. If his move to Miami is confirmed, couldSuárez's chronic knee problem require some load management? A potentially exciting move, nonetheless.
1 hour to kickoff: Players have started arriving at the stadium ahead of tonight's friendly. There is still no indication of when Messi will address the crowd, despite a speech being scheduled for earlier in the evening.
Back at it one more time 🔁#MIAvNYCFC | 8PM ET | #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV pic.twitter.com/THKfYmMJqh
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) November 10, 2023
1.5 hours to kickoff: While the focus tonight is on Messi's latest Ballon d'Or victory, there is already discussion around the future of the award, with a new generation of footballing talent emerging.
Messi tipped four potential future winners following this year's ceremony, including 2023 podium-sitters Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.
You can read his Ballon d'Or predictions here.
2 hours to kickoff:Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d'Orin late October, extending his own all-time record and leaving him with a solid claim as the greatest football player to ever grace the sport.
Inter Miami will hold a celebration for Messi's most recent trophy at DRV PNK Stadium ahead of this match. There will be a speech by Messi himself, while Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas and MLS commissioner Don Garber will also speak at the event.
— Inter Miami CF Academy (@InterMiamiAcad) November 3, 2023Inspiring the next generation 💫
A warm welcome for Leo Messi ⚽️ This is the #FreedomToDream pic.twitter.com/tkwLV0xmtb
Inter Miami vs NYCFCconfirmed lineups & team news
In preparation for his upcoming games with Argentina next week,Lionel Messi willplay for Inter Miami. However,it's unlikely he will play the full 90-minute role to keep him fresh and ready for national team duty.
Inter Miami confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3):1. Callender (GK) — 2. Yedlin, 15. Sailor, 31. Miller, 18. Alba — 8. Gomez, 5. Busquets, 41. D. Ruiz — 10. Messi, 11. Farias, 9. Campana
NYCFC does not have any players who are likely to make international rosters in the coming week, but this match is a chance for 21-year-old BrazilianTalles Magnoto get some more playing time as he continues to develop into an important player for his MLS side.
NYCFC confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3):49. Freese (GK) —35.Ilenič,13. Martins,5. Risa,22. O'Toole —10. S. Rodríguez,15. Perea,55. Keaton —11. J. Fernández,9. Bakrar,43. Magno
How to watch Inter Miami vs NYCFC
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| Global | — | Apple TV (MLS Season Pass) |
The friendly match between Inter Miami and NYCFC will be available to watch exclusively on MLS Season Pass from Apple TV.
Apple TV is also the exclusive home of the 2023 MLS Cup playoffs, with the first round nearing conclusion and the quarterfinals nearly complete.
