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Inter Miami vs NYCFC live score, result, updates, highlights from Noche d’Or friendly to honor Lionel Messi

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Inter Miami will take the field for the final time in 2023 to celebrate their superstar and his latest achievement.

The MLS side will honor Lionel Messi’s record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or with a friendly match against fellow U.S. club New York City FC on Friday. The event has been dubbed “Noche d’Or” or “Golden Night”.

In practice, the game will also serve to keep Messi match-fit ahead of Argentina’s pair of World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil coming up the following week. Inter Miami had previously scheduled a pair of friendlies in China to serve this purpose, but those were cancelled by the tour promoter due to “unforeseen circumstances in China”.

This gave Inter Miami the opportunity to arrange a fixture to celebrate Messi’s latest trophy and stay close to home prior to his departure for international duty.

The Sporting News is following the Inter Miami vs. NYCFC friendly live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

MORE: Recap the 2023 Ballon d’Or festivities as Lionel Messi won his eighth trophy

Inter Miami vs NYCFC live score

68th min

  Score Goal scorers
Inter Miami 0 –
NYCFC 2 Magno (43′), Fernández (48′)

Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Location: DRV PNK Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)

Starting lineups:

Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Callender (GK) — 2. Yedlin (Allen, 60′), 15. Sailor (McVey, 60′), 31. Miller, 18. Alba — 8. Gomez, 5. Busquets, 41. D. Ruiz  — 10. Messi, 11. Farias (Stefanelli, 60′), 9. Campana

NYCFC (4-3-3, right to left): 49. Freese (GK) — 35. Ilenič (Grav, 46′), 13. Martins, 5. Risa, 22. O’Toole  — 10. S. Rodríguez, 15. Perea, 55. Keaton — 11. J. Fernández, 9. Bakrar, 43. Magno

MORE: MLS playoff schedule, fixtures, highlights, results as top teams push for 2023 title

Inter Miami vs NYCFC live updates, highlights, commentary

66th min: Some players are understandably beginning to look a little lethargic. NYCFC are implementing a low block as they look to see out this two-goal lead, and Miami are struggling to break them down.

60th min: Three substitutions made by Miami as they look to shake things up here. Stefanelli will look to spark their attack, while McVey and Allen freshen up their defense.

55th min: NYCFC are keen to add a third here. Their latest counter-attack involves Magno again, but Bakrar is unable to finish from a tight angle.

52nd min: Chance, Inter Miami! Messi controls the ball beautifully from a lobbed pass before bursting into space and narrowly missing the goal with a curling effort.

48th min: GOAL, NYCFC! What a start to the second period from the visitors! Magno delivers a deft touch into the feet of Fernández, who executes a stunning strike into the top left corner.

SECOND HALF: We’re back underway! Can Messi find a goal to celebrate his historic Ballon d’Or achievement?

HALF TIME: An interesting 45 minutes, with Miami finding themselves 1-0 down despite having the majority of possession and numerous good chances. Counter-attacking was the name of the game for NYCFC, and it was the source of their late goal.

43rd min: GOAL, NYCFC! New York score the opener! The ball falls to Magno after a slight deflection from a cross, before the 21-year-old Brazilian smartly fires across the goal and finds the back of the net. 

40th min: Some really tidy work in the box from Gomez, but Miami are still searching for the opener.

36th min: NYCFC are beginning to work into this game nicely, earning their third corner in as many minutes in a nice attacking flurry. No clear-cut chances, though.

34th min: Another opportunity for Miami, who break at pace following a NYCFC corner. After a fortunate rebound, the ball is passed to the feet of Messi, who skies his long-range attempt.

28th min: Chance, Inter Miami! No prizes for guessing who was involved again… Messi receives the ball off a zippy give-and-go but scuffs his lines just metres out from goal and uncharacteristically gets his own feet tied up. Gomez’s following effort is then blocked.

20th min: There is no denying that Messi still has it. He drops deep to find the ball, executes a smooth one-two pass, and then wiggles his way through defenders in signature style before firing off a shot.

17th min: The intensity and pace of the match still haven’t dropped off. There is plenty of space in the middle of the park, exposed a few times already by NYCFC’s Fernández.

11th min: Chance, Inter Miami! It’s Messi again! The Argentine is fed by Faris and gets a shot off in tight space, but it is saved by Callender and grazes the post.

10th min: Chance, Inter Miami! Alba continues to be afforded space on the left, and NYCFC nearly pay the price. The Spaniard whips the ball into the feet of Messi, who dances around defenders before his shot is deflected behind for a corner, narrowly missing the goal. 

6th min: Miami have re-gained control of this fast-paced match, with Alba creating multiple chances on the wing. Just a handful of touches for Messi so far, and the crowds erupt with noise whenever he gets involved.

2nd min: Chance, NYCFC! O’Toole delivers a great ball down the left side to the feet of Fernández, whose shot is saved by Callender. The ball falls to Magno, but the youngster misses the target from outside the box.

1st min: A confident start from Miami, with Gomez displaying some crafty footwork to create space down the left.

KICKOFF: We’re underway at DRV PNK Stadium!

Inter Miami vs. NYCFC: Pre-match commentary, analysis, and more

10 mins to kickoff: Messi has presented his eighth Ballon d’Or trophy to the crowd in Fort Lauderdale, followed by a brief speech in his native Spanish.

15 mins to kickoff: Both sides have announced their starting line-ups, with Lionel Messi named to start for Inter Miami. He will be joined by former Barcelona teammates Alba and Busquets on the field. As for NYCFC, they have put out a young and strong starting XI, including 18-year-old Slovenian defender Mitja Ilenič.

30 mins to kickoff: Warm-ups are underway at DRV PNK Stadium. The pre-match ceremony is set to begin shortly.

45 mins to kickoff: Messi isn’t the only superstar currently plying his trade at Inter Miami — the Argentine is joined in Florida by former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Now, there is a chance that another reunion is on the cards for next season, with reports Messi will be able to link up again with Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez. Earlier this week, Miami agreed to a deal with Grêmio for Suárez, per ESPN.

The veteran is enjoying another strong season despite having to navigate a number of knee-related injuries. If his move to Miami is confirmed, could Suárez’s chronic knee problem require some load management? A potentially exciting move, nonetheless.

1 hour to kickoff: Players have started arriving at the stadium ahead of tonight’s friendly. There is still no indication of when Messi will address the crowd, despite a speech being scheduled for earlier in the evening.

1.5 hours to kickoff: While the focus tonight is on Messi’s latest Ballon d’Or victory, there is already discussion around the future of the award, with a new generation of footballing talent emerging.

Messi tipped four potential future winners following this year’s ceremony, including 2023 podium-sitters Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé. 

You can read his Ballon d’Or predictions here.

2 hours to kickoff: Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or in late October, extending his own all-time record and leaving him with a solid claim as the greatest football player to ever grace the sport.

Inter Miami will hold a celebration for Messi’s most recent trophy at roughly 6 p.m. ET at DRV PNK Stadium ahead of this match. There will be a speech by Messi himself, while Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas and MLS commissioner Don Garber will also speak at the event.

Inter Miami vs NYCFC confirmed lineups & team news

In preparation for his upcoming games with Argentina next week, Lionel Messi will play for Inter Miami. However, it’s unlikely he will play the full 90-minute role to keep him fresh and ready for national team duty.

Inter Miami confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3): 1. Callender (GK) — 2. Yedlin, 15. Sailor, 31. Miller, 18. Alba — 8. Gomez, 5. Busquets, 41. D. Ruiz  — 10. Messi, 11. Farias, 9. Campana

NYCFC does not have any players who are likely to make international rosters in the coming week, but this match is a chance for 21-year-old Brazilian Talles Magno to get some more playing time as he continues to develop into an important player for his MLS side.

NYCFC confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3): 49. Freese (GK) — 35. Ilenič, 13. Martins, 5. Risa, 22. O’Toole  — 10. S. Rodríguez, 15. Perea, 55. Keaton — 11. J. Fernández, 9. Bakrar, 43. Magno

How to watch Inter Miami vs NYCFC

The friendly match between Inter Miami and NYCFC will be available to watch exclusively on MLS Season Pass from Apple TV.

Apple TV is also the exclusive home of the 2023 MLS Cup playoffs, with the first round nearing conclusion and the quarterfinals nearly complete.





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