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FootballInter Miami Players Give Ballon D'Or Winner Lionel Messi Heroic Welcome: Video
- Inter Miami players have given Lionel Messi a special welcome following his Ballon d'Or win
- The Argentina captain won the award in France on Monday night
- Messi joined the Major League Soccer side in the summer transfer window
Lionel Messi received a heartwarming welcome from his Inter Miami teammates following his return from Paris after winning his eighth Ballon d'Or title.
The Argentina star beat off competition from Manchester City forward, Erling Haaland and former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Kylian Mbappe, to win the 2023 award.
Messi's inspiring role in leading Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup gave him the edge over his rivals at the ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet.
In a video shared on social media, Messi was seen being welcomed by his teammates with a beautifully carved placard showing the number eight, accompanied by the signatures of the players.
"I couldn’t imagine having the career that I’ve had. Everything that I’ve achieved. The fortune I’ve had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It’s nice to win these individual trophies. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done is amazing," Messi said, as quoted by Reutersto .
"All of them (Ballon d'Or awards) are special for different reasons," he added.
Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer transfer window after leaving French giants PSG.
He led the Miami-based club to the Leagues Cup success but the club failed to make the play-offs of the Major League Soccer in 2023.
Messi wins eighth Ballon d'Or
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time in his career at a star-studded ceremony in Paris on Monday.
Lionel Messi: Argentine star reportedly 'wins eighth Ballon d'Or' after World Cup success
FootballMessi, 36, succeeds Karim Benzema as the winner of the prize, awarded for his performances last season when he inspired Argentina to glory at the World Cup.
It was his displays in Qatar, when Messi dragged his country to a victory that crowned his remarkable career, that allowed Messi to see off stiff competition from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in particular.