MLS
Inter Miami and Lionel Messi toast 2023 at end-of-season dinner before ‘Noche d’Or’
The Herons won their first ever trophy, the Leagues Cup, in July and sign off with a tribute match for Messi against NYCFC.
Inter Miami will bid farewell to 2023 in style at DRV PNK Stadium on Friday, when the first ever ‘Noche d’Or’ will take place in honour of star man Lionel Messi. David Beckham’s side will face New York City FC in a friendly, which will effectively be a tribute match for the Argentina captain, who won his eighth Ballon d’Or at the end of October.
Ahead of kickoff, Messi will take to the field on a golden carpet before showing his his new shiny award off to 18,000 fans, who will also get to hear from the man-of-the-moment himself. Following the game, Inter Miami will host a BRESH party (the most popular Latin American party worldwide) at XBTO NW Club.
Where did Inter Miami have their end-of-season dinner?
However, the celebrations actually started on Thursday, with the whole playing roster going for an end-of-season dinner, as reported by media agency World Red Eye. They snapped the squad, led by Messi, at Italian restaurant Casadonna in Miami, with Josef Martínez, who left the club after last game of the MLS regular season, among those attendance as The Herons said goodbye to 2023, the year in which they won the first trophy in their history - the Leagues Cup.
When will Inter Miami be back in action in 2024?
Once Friday’s ‘Noche d’Or’ is over, some players will head off on vacation to recharge their batteries, while others, including Messi, will join up with their respective national teams for November’s international fixtures.
The Inter Miami roster is expected to return for preseason at the start of January, with head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino revealing this week that the club will play a combination of warmup games in Florida and abroad before the 2024 MLS season starts in February.