Lionel Messi vs New York City - Ballon D'or Show (11/11/2023)

What to expect from Messi before he got to the MLS. Cleared that up on his debut. Beautiful free kick. And then just the magic he produces on the field week in, week out. And then you look at the eyes he's brought to our league. I live on a street where the neighbours only care about hockey, American football and basketball. Sold out. They can't believe it. Everybody's involved. And then I think about the player pool. He's already brought one of the best midfielders we've seen in Busquets. He brings one of the best left backs we've seen in Jordi Alba. And now maybe Suarez. I'm going to talk about him on the field and his elite mentality. You know, he hadn't won the World Cup. He had won everything else. Finally puts everything into winning the World Cup, end of 22. And you would think that took a lot out of him. To come in to the League's Cup, you know, taking the team that's bottom of the league, winning the League's Cup. That's an elite mentality to go again. What's next for Lionel? He's actually had to size up in his cleats here tonight because there is eight footballs on his cleats. I mean, there's just not enough room to celebrate this, man. Even people ask, we're to call you and say, guys, get your cleats on. We need a water boy. Would you do it? I'm going for Miami life. I'm definitely going. Miami life is a secondary thing, but to play with the goat right there. Of course, you're going to get that. You got to smell a ring in that situation. He's made everyone better both on and off the pitch. You see the young guns come in. The Argentine young kids, 21, 22 years old. He's completely turned the mentality of this team around as well. The level's risen. As soon as he got here, the level, it rose. It's high level now, what Messi's produced on the field and what he's demanding from his teammates. But I can't help wonder about 24. A Messi busquets Jordi Alba with a preseason under their belt. Full time to get to know their teammates. Yeah. That's scary to me. And then you add Suarez, maybe. Yeah, yeah. I mean, talking about the youngsters, obviously the youngsters have upped their game. Kramaski, you know, Ruiz as well. Really like Ruiz. One they talk about, not as much as Kramaski, but, you know, they've really upped their game. Of course, they're going to, they're playing with Messi. It's going to bring the best out of them. It's going to be exciting to see Tata Martino, the head coach for Inter Miami, to get a full season to get this team firing even more. Inter Miami playing host tonight against... I think that's took a lot out of him. To come in to the League's Cup, you know, taking the team that's bottom of the league, winning the League's Cup. That's an elite mentality to go again. What's next for Lionel? He's actually had to size up in his cleats here tonight because there is eight footballs on his cleats. I mean, there's just not enough room to celebrate this man. Even people on the streets coming up to you and friends and family asking, can you get me an Inter Miami jersey for my kids for Christmas? I'm like, best of luck. I've been asking for two and a half weeks. Now, just looking forward to 2024 for this Inter Miami side, the question marks around the Sergio Busquets, the Jordi Alvarez, the Lionel Messis. Can they come in in the short amount of time and make an immediate impact? They did that. CROWD CHEERING That choice was made by this man who was only months removed from winning the World Cup and who scored seven times in that tournament in Qatar. And it makes us wonder how pivotal the next two years are with Messi under contract. I think the question for many, who follows after Lionel Messi? Well, he's started the trend now. The greatest player in the world has come to MLS and more will follow. He will be telling stories of what it's like right now. The greatest player in the world has come to MLS and more will follow. He will be telling stories. Miami, New York City, Noche Dior. And these fans in South Florida haven't seen a lot of Messi since the summer. His only home appearance since the start of September was a win versus Toronto. When he left due to injury after 37 minutes, he was also subbed on for 35 minutes in a loss to Cincinnati that eliminated Miami from playoff contention. All of that had a lot to do and so did the wear and tear of the League's Cup in Miami faltering and not making the postseason. Yeah, 100%. And I think if they'd have managed to get to the playoffs, I think they would have been favourites because of the way that they were evolving. Now it's all about looking towards next season. You look at Messi, the greatest player in the world, but then you look at the young players around him. What an experience that must be. And if they can get the balance right, the blend right, then they're going to be so competitive in every single competition that they're going to be in. New York City is the invited guest. They finished 11th in the East and scored in the 95th minute to tie before shutting down the operation in 2023. They do, and they have something to build on from towards the end of the season as well. You know, the young players starting to grow as well, but it was a lack of consistency in the start in 11. And that's where Nick Cushman will be hoping to hit the ground running. That is the case, the attacking three for Miami. Messi, Facundo Farias, and Leo Campana. And tonight, Nocedor is underway. Sanders, their attacking trio at the start tonight. And this is Messi going long in the direction of Leo. Look at this inter-Miami team going forward. They're always going to create problems, but they won't leave themselves open. Messi controls a second time. The switch to the left. Jordi Alba plays centrally. Able to pick up Messi. Or Diego Gomez. That is the starting right back. And play back, David Ruiz, to the foot of Ryan Sailor, the 24-year-old center back. Fabusquez. Messi off the ball. Yes, we see how good he is when he gets on the ball. This is Farias. Messi. Team as well. They have some outstanding individuals, but what they need is experience around them. Messi pulling to the attack. Messi. Jordi will work this across. First touch by Ruiz. Taken here by Messi. Look at how Messi fires. And missed. Sent it wide of goal. Took a deflection out. It's a corner for inter-Miami. He's enjoying himself once again. Finds himself this time just in space on the edge of the box. Just wait. Called by Greg Berhalter for the upcoming games. Farias. Messi. Now to receive again. Lionel Messi. Left foot. Save made by Matt Herons. His movement just had the lead over Philadelphia in an Eastern Conference Final last year. 100% with the plays that you just mentioned. You look at Castellanos. They have demands. They demand it from their teammates. And I think that's what is needed on a continuous basis. Messi going long. Given away middle of the field. Gathered by Messi. Look how much the team has improved just when he's been training week after week. We have the calendar. We know all of these things are coming. And we have no excuses if Messi runs out of gas at any point. Look at him go here. This is something he'll drop deep to get involved. But then it's all about, okay, what can he do next? And when he gives the ball, can he get it back? The way that he glides. Starting 28-30 games next season for this New York City side. Messi plays this ahead. The get-and-go. Lionel Messi has options. Messi. Gomez. Touchback from Messi. Duskets. Diego Gomez. Messi again. Wants another kick. Again. This ball curled in. Messi and comfortably nestled by. And again, we reference the crowded schedule in 2024. Messi. Messi awaits. 26, he's wrapping up a fifth MLS season here, and he's ready for that. I think the question is, will he be? Duskets. Messi. Last chance for it to Miami. No stoppage time is on the way. Messi for Jordi Alba. Match tonight. The match created in his honor on the heels of an eighth. Ballon d'Or. Downstairs we go. Antonella Gonzalez. Down to the field now are all players who have performed in the first half. And Lionel Messi, Facundo Fideas, the last of those exiting the inter-Miami locker room. We'll see how long Tata Martino runs out his starting line. We know how long they can go into the game, and it will be Messi that makes that decision. And it is indeed the starting 11. Be patient. He eventually got his chance. Messi wins this. Yeah, we had a great view of it from when he picked it up. All we could see was the number 10, but you knew exactly what he was going to do. He watched it, he found the space, he got in behind the fullback, and he's got one thing to do. Yes, for Miami. Now Messi. Touched by David Luiz. Comes back to Messi again. Miami City controlling more and more of the possession now as we move forward. Played back. Lionel Messi. Messi. Busquets to the foot of David Luiz. Messi again. Working up by New York City. Good pressure here by Inter-Miami. Settled here by Inter-Miami. Lionel Messi looking for goal. And his shot is Messi. Reverses course. Watch Gomez. Messi following up with a flip to it. Going long. Flag is up. Second minute of a one-goal game. And Messi remains on. Sends this ball through. Here comes Inter-Miami with Lionel Messi on the ball. Messi backs up New York City. Messi with a shot. Seth Brees diving to his right. It'll come back for a goal kick. They're dispossessed. Messi. One last chance. Continues on. He's found. He'll get a free kick before the night ends from dead center. He's going to take this free kick. He writes a script. Difficult is his free center now. It's like, okay, you can go to Brees' right. You can go to Brees' left. Should be fine. Almost everyone at DrivePix Stadium here is standing. Messi. Over the bar. Feet straight afterwards. He's thinking to himself, I don't want to concede a last-minute free kick against a great man. Lionel Messi with difficulty getting the ball on. Talking guarantee NYCFC now. Regardless of this being a friendly, it's something, yeah, we beat a team that had Messi in it. And that's something that he deals with all of the time in the game.