sport news Inter Miami will 'celebr8' Lionel Messi's eighth Ballon d'Or by hosting a ... trends now

View
comments

Inter Miami will host an exhibition match later this month to honor and celebrate the eighth Ballon d'Or won by Lionel Messi earlier this week. 

The team will play fellow MLS club New York City FC on November 10. Both teams missed the MLS playoffs, which started last month. 

The trophy, which Messi received in Paris on Monday, will be presented to the crowd before kickoff, with that ceremony also set to include remarks by MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Inter Miami co-owner Jorge  Mas, the team said in a press release. 

And there will be no shortage of themes built around the No. 8, commemorating the record time Messi has won the Ballon d'Or - presented annually to the world's top player. 

The team is saying it will 'celebr8' Messi's trophy by playing the extra game, and a special drink priced at $8.88. There will be gold fireworks and a gold carpet entrance as well, the team said, another nod to the gold trophy.