Lionel Messi did not take much time to celebrate winning the Ballon d’Or on Monday night.
After receiving his eighth Golden Ball in Paris, Messi, 36, was back in Fort Lauderlade, Florida training with his MLS team on Tuesday morning.
Inter Miami posted pictures of the squad celebrating Messi in their practice facility. Messi posed with the team and embarked in a playful guard of honor while other players popped confetti and held cut out signs of the number eight.
‘Bienvenido a casa, ganador,’ (Welcome home, winner) the club captioned.
On Monday, Inter Miami president and co-owner David Beckham presented Messi with the Ballon d’Or. Messi won the prestigious award over Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Kevin de Bruyne.
Lionel Messi received a guard of honor from his Inter Miami teammates on Tuesday morning
Messi led Inter Miami to winning the Leagues Cup and appearing in the US Open Cup final
Messi has won the Ballon d’Or eight times; 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023
Messi’s claim to the Ballon d’Or came from his heroics at the FIFA World Cup in December. Messi scored seven goals for Argentina in the tournament, including two in a dramatic final against France. Shortly after, Messi left Paris Saint-Germain in a record breaking deal to join Inter Miami in MLS.
Despite missing the MLS playoffs, Messi’s impact was immediate as Miami was at the bottom of the league before his arrival.
Within two months, Messi led Miami to their first club trophy after winning the inaugural Leagues Cup in August.
In September, Inter Miami appeared at the US Open Cup final but lost to the Houston Dynamo.
As for the MLS regular season, Messi only played in six games due to injuries and international duties. Through those games, he scored a goal and two assists.
Inter Miami will embark on a Chinese tour in November. The Herons are scheduled to face Qingdao Hainiu FC in Qingdao, China on November 5, followed by Chengdu Rongcheng in Chengdu, China on November 8.
