FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi’s first season with Inter Miami and Major League Soccer has officially come to an end.

Fans in attendance chanted “Vamos, Messi” (Let’s go, Messi) in the second half, and Messi had a chance to score a free kick from about 25 yards out to tie the match in the final seconds. His left boot sailed over the net on a rough day, where he missed on every chance he took. It was a rusty day on the pitch for the world’s greatest player.

NYCFC spoiled the night, winning the friendly 2-1, in the first match for both sides since their MLS regular seasons ended without playoff berths on Oct. 21.

This night wasn’t about the result as much as it was about celebrating Messi’s impact in his brief four months with the American soccer club.

“For me, it’s something amazing to share with you,” Messi said after carrying out his golden trophy, the eighth of his career – more than any other player.

“I’ve been here for a short period, but it feels like a long time. Like I said at the beginning, I never doubted we were going to enjoy our time here and now I have no doubts that next year it’s going to be even better.”

Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas counted the days – 122 of them – since Messi, his wife Antonela, and their children landed at a small airport just yards from the club’s pitch.

Mas called Messi “the greatest player to ever live” and “the world’s greatest No. 10.”

“This football club was created on a dream, a dream that South Florida would house the greatest football team this country had ever seen,” Mas said. “It has been our aspiration and our goal, that when football is talked about in America, that people think and believe in Miami.”

Since Messi joined the club, Inter Miami’s popularity has risen exponentially, along with the sale of pink and black Inter Miami No. 10 jerseys and viewership on Apple TV worldwide.

Messi helped Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup title in August, the club’s first championship in its short history. Inter Miami finished second in the U.S. Open Cup, but failed to make the MLS postseason.

Messi scored 11 goals and assisted five more times in 14 appearances for Inter Miami, but the club finished its season winless in its last seven games (not including the friendly).

Even though Messi’s season did not end in a success for Inter Miami, it was a rousing one for MLS.

“You, Inter Miami fans, have the best player to ever play the game,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said during the celebration.

“Thank you, Lionel, for your belief in Major League Soccer and making your club and our league a league of choice.”

Messi will join Argentina for two more World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay in Buenos Aires on Nov. 16, and Brazil at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 21.

Messi isn’t expected to rejoin Inter Miami until they begin preparing for next season in January with an arduous schedule, highlighted by the CONCACAF Champions League, Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup and MLS season. Messi could also play in the Copa America tournament with Argentina next year, too.

“We are going to keep enjoying, keep winning titles and I hope you can support us like you have since I arrived,” Messi said. “It has been amazing and next year we have important tournaments to face together.”

Messi highlights: Read his speech to the fans

Here’s what Messi told Inter Miami fans before the game (translated through the team):

‘Good evening. First of all thank you, thank you for being here, thank you for this beautiful ceremony. To me, it is something very beautiful to share with you. I’ve only been here a little while but it really feels like I’ve been here a long time.

‘I want to thank all the people of Miami, not only the ones here at the stadium, but in the city in general, for the way you have treated not only me, but also my family these last few months. You’ve shown me a lot of love and made me feel at home. This is a city with a lot of Latinos, which makes me feel very comfortable, and we get along very well, so thank you very much.

‘Like I just said, we haven’t been together long but we already achieved something really important, which was the first title for this Club, for our Club. It is something very important because it’s what we came looking for, because we needed it as a club and we as players after how we were doing at the time. It’s something important for what is to come next year, because it gives us the possibility of playing in another important tournament (Concacaf Champions Cup). And as I said at the beginning, I had no doubt that we were going to have a good time, that we were going to enjoy it, and today I have no doubt, as I didn’t have at the beginning, and much less now, that next year is going to be a lot better.

‘We are going to continue enjoying, we are going to continue winning titles and I hope you accompany us as you accompanied us all these months that I’ve been here because the truth is that we need your support, it was something great to have you nearby. As I said before, next year we have important things coming and we have to do it together. Thanks a lot. Good night.’

Messi misses in 87: NYCFC 2, Inter Miami 1

Messi could only look toward the net in disbelief. This time, he tried to score with his right leg. And the result was the same as it’s been much of the night.

Messi’s kick sailed outside of the net in the 88th minute.

He’s going to likely play this entire friendly.

Robbie Robinson Goal: NYCFC 2, Inter Miami 1

Inter Miami is on the board.

Substitute Robbie Robinson scored with a left boot into the right side of the net in the 80th minute, and this game could see Messi play the distance.

With 10 minutes left, Messi could finish this match with hopes to deliver a highlight goal as he’s been pursuing much of the night.

Messi misses in 75’: NYCFC 2, Inter Miami 0

Messi was by himself and on the attack, but unable to provide fans with the magical moment they came and tuned into see in Friday night’s friendly.

Messi’s left boot was blocked by NYCFC goalie Matt Freese once again in the match.

Julián Fernández goal: NYCFC 2, Inter Miami 0

Messi’s first shot in the second half just skirted outside the left side of the net, but nearly curled into the net in the 52nd minute.

It only took two minutes into the second half for NYCFC to double its lead. Julián Fernández kicked a left footed shot from the center of the box into the top left corner of the net to give NYCFC a 2-0 lead in the 48th minute of Messi’s celebratory friendly.

Talles Magno, who scored the first goal, assisted on the second.

Messi is in the game, but how much longer he will play is the question in the second half of this one.

Talles Magno goal: NYCFC 1, Inter Miami 0 at halftime

It’s Messi’s night. But that isn’t stopping NYCFC from playing spoiler.

Talles Magno’s left boot in the 42nd minute gave NYCFC a 1-0 lead.

And the crowd has gone quiet here at DRV PNK Stadium just before halftime.

Messi’s best opportunity misses: Inter Miami 0, NYCFC 0

Messi’s best opportunity came in the 27th minute, when he had a shot in point blank range – for him, at least.

Instead, Messi winded up falling on his backside after his attempt.

Messi got a pass inside the box and uncharacteristically mistimed how he would kick it into the net. It was almost like Messi scored the goal before he actually did.

He ended up on the pitch, and being helped up by the NYCFC goalie as the play continued – hey, it’s a friendly, after all.

Just before the 33rd minute, Messi had another shot that went sailing into the Inter Miami stands.

Messi misses his first two chances of the game: Inter Miami 0, NYCFC 0

The fans noise crescendos every time Messi has touched the ball in this one.

Messi missed his first shot on goal in the 10th minute, a left boot that barely rose above the net and into the crowd. But the fans in attendance here are eager for a memorable goal they can capture with their phones.

About a minute later, Messi softly kicked a shot on goal, but the NYCFC goalie was able to dive and bat it away with his right hand. Messi grimaced after the missed opportunity.

In the 20th minute, Messi tried to navigate between at least six NYCFC defenders before a shot deflected off an opposing player and behind him.

Messi is in Inter Miami’s starting lineup

Surprise, surprise. Of course, Messi is in Inter Miami’s starting lineup for a friendly honoring his eighth Ballon d’Or trophy on Friday night.

Here’s the starting lineup for Inter Miami:

Time, TV channel for Messi, Inter Miami match vs. NYCFC?

The match begins at 8 p.m., and will be broadcast on Apple TV.

Zidane says Messi is ‘pure magic’ in Adidas conversation

It turns out Zinedine Zidane did a little more than just check out Messi play during a September Inter Miami match.

Messi and Zidane sat together for an extended conversation, which was posted on the Adidas YouTube channel this week. And it’s a real treat for soccer fans.

“It’s a pity that we couldn’t play together,” Zidane told Messi. “This is the moment for me to pass you the ball.”

Zidane also said to Messi: “Today is a very important day for me because I can tell him how much I admire him… I think it is magic, pure magic.”

Watch the interview here:

Will Messi play in Inter Miami friendly?

Martino said Messi may not play the entire friendly against NYCFC.

“I am not sure if he will play the full 90 minutes, but he will play,” Martino said this week.

While the match serves as a final tune-up for Inter Miami’s offseason, it could also serve as preparation for two 2026 World Cup qualifying matches with Argentina later this month.

Inter Miami will honor Messi’s 8th Ballon d’Or Award

The friendly against NYCFC, named Noche d’Or by the club, will see Messi honored on the field at 7:45 p.m. before play gets underway.

Messi, Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas and MLS Commissioner Don Garber are expected to speak. Messi’s Ballon d’Or trophy will also be presented to the fans at DRV PNK Stadium.

What’s next for Messi?

Messi will join the Argentine national team for two more World Cup qualifying matches this month.

Argentina will play Uruguay in Buenos Aires Nov. 16, and Brazil at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro Nov. 21.

Now healthy with no Inter Miami matches, Messi could see significant playing time in both matches.

How did Messi look his last time out?

Messi was held scoreless but played the entire match in his last outing with Inter Miami, a 1-0 loss to Charlotte FC to end the MLS season Oct. 21.

But he returned to form in his most recent match with Argentina, where he scored two goals and played all 93 minutes in a match against Peru Oct. 17.

Messi was sidelined with a right leg injury that caused him to miss six Inter Miami matches in the final month of the MLS season.

Inter Miami friendly replaces China tour

Messi and Inter Miami were slated to travel and play two friendlies against Chinese super teams in China earlier this month, but their China tour was ultimately canceled.

Instead, they will end their 2023 campaign against NYCFC.

“We were really looking to have some friendly matches, but due to circumstances that didn’t depend on us, we could not go to China,” Martino said this week. “However, this is a good opportunity.”

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Two-way star and coveted free agent Shohei Ohtani is donating about 60,000 baseball gloves to Japanese elementary schools.

Ohtani, a free agent who has spent the past six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, announced Wednesday on Instagram that he’s donating the youth gloves to schools throughout Japan.

“I’m happy to announce that I will be donating approximately 60,000 youth gloves to every elementary school in Japan,” Ohtani said. “That comes out to around 20,000 elementary schools. I’m hoping the kids can spend their days happily with a lot of energy through baseball.”

The gloves Ohtani is donating are from New Balance, one of his corporate partners.

The 29-year-old Ohtani is coming off a season in which he batted .304 with 44 homers and also went 10-5 on the mound with a 3.14 ERA. He had elbow surgery for the second time in six years and won’t pitch in the 2024 season.

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A cursory glance at the Week 11 college football schedule would suggest that the results will bring a measure of clarity to the playoff picture. The fact of the matter is things are fairly cut and dried already, and only an infusion of chaos that has been conspicuously absent all season will alter the list of actual contenders.

Even so, all of said contenders will be taking the field Saturday, and most of their games should be worth a look. We begin our ranking of the seven most watchable contests with the championship candidate that could be in for its first four-quarter fight of the campaign.

No. 2 Michigan at No. 9 Penn State

Time/TV: Noon ET, Fox.

Why watch: At last, the Wolverines face a ranked opponent, and one that is in a must-win situation at that. After coming up short at Ohio State last month, the Nittany Lions absolutely positively have to have this one to keep any playoff aspirations alive. For all the off-field drama surrounding the Michigan program, there’s been very little of it in game action with the Wolverines outscoring their first nine opponents by an average of 40.7-6.7. The Michigan offense, directed by QB J.J. McCarthy and featuring RB Blake Corum and WR Roman Wilson, is converting at a 55% clip on third down. But on the other side Penn State leads the Big Ten in third-down defense, allowing a conversion rate of 28.7%, with DL Adisa Isaac and Zane Durant leading the effort in the trenches. Nittany Lions QB Drew Allar is coming off arguably his best performance of the season at Maryland. He might need to be even better to solve the Michigan air defense that has swiped 12 passes and returned four to the house, including a pair by Mike Sainristil.

Why it could disappoint: Though it will surely be the subject of pregame discussion, the ongoing signal stealing investigation isn’t likely to mar the game action at this point. But if the contest is another defensive slog as Penn State’s game at Ohio State was, or if one team finds its offense while the other struggles, the fun factor will be severely curtailed. In the latter scenario, Michigan is the more likely candidate to secure a multi-score cushion with its more proven commodities.

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No. 10 Mississippi at No. 1 Georgia

Time/TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch: The day’s second top-10 showdown finds the Bulldogs in the familiar position of looking to close out the SEC East race. The Rebels’ slim hopes of winning the West might be extinguished by the time this game kicks off, but a monumental road upset would keep them in the at-large playoff conversation as well as set them up for a New Year’s Six berth. The good news for Ole Miss is its triumvirate of QB Jaxson Dart, RB Quinshon Judkins and WR Tre Harris could have similar success against the tough Georgia defense as Mizzou managed last week. Georgia QB Carson Beck has his completion rate up to a healthy 72.2%, and RBs Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton are reliable drive finishers. DB Trey Washington is the Rebels’ leading stopper, but his friends in front of him need to do better to make sure the action doesn’t reach him quite so often.

Why it could disappoint: Though Ole Miss does have a nice win against LSU on its ledger, there’s still a major ‘prove it’ factor with this team on the road against top-tier competition. While this Bulldogs’ team hasn’t been as dominant as last year’s version, a UGa blowout has a higher probability than a Rebel Rout.

No. 14 Utah at No. 5 Washington

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: The Huskies survived an entertaining shootout with Southern California in prime time. They now face an opponent with very different strengths as the Utes look to shut down their high-octane attack. Huskies QB Michael Penix was helped by a career night from RB Dillon Johnson last week in the Coliseum. Opposing the likes of Utes LB Levani Damuni and DB Cole Bishop will make for tougher sledding on the ground, but WR Ja’Lynn Polk could have success finding seams in the middle. Utah QB Bryson Barnes and RB Ja’Quinden Jackson were able to subdue Arizona State by conventional means last time out, but DB Dominique Hampton and the Huskies’ back seven must also be cognizant when Utah all-purpose weapon Sione Vaki, usually a safety, lines up in the offensive backfield.

Why it could disappoint: Though shaky at times, the Washington defense has for the most part handled opponents with limited explosive options. If this does become a track meet, Utah could have a hard time matching scores.

No. 12 Tennessee at No. 15 Missouri

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

Why watch: The Volunteers still have a modicum of an iota of a mathematical chance to win the SEC East, a scenario that will have their fans gritting their teeth and rooting for their despised former head coach at Ole Miss later in the day. But first they must pass this difficult road test, and the Tigers aren’t terribly interested in Tennessee’s situation as they look to continue their best season in several years. Overall Missouri acquitted itself well at top-ranked Georgia a week ago, although QB Brady Cook would undoubtedly like to have one particular throw back. Nevertheless, he and WR Luther Burden III along with RB Cody Schrader should have success against a Vols’ defense that hasn’t fared as well away from Knoxville. Tennessee QB Joe Milton can struggle on deep balls, but RBs Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small could help if the ground game gets rolling early.

Why it could disappoint: It depends which version of road Tennessee shows up. If it’s the one that couldn’t get out of its own way in Gainesville in September, the Tigers will make short work of it. But the Vols also played a strong first half in Tuscaloosa before the Crimson Tide got rolling, and a similar performance would make this a compelling game in Columbia.

Southern California at No. 6 Oregon

Time/TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: The Ducks remain on course for a possible rematch with Washington in the Pac-12 finale. They have a somewhat challenging home stretch to get through first, however, starting with this late-night date with the Trojans. Southern California can still be dangerous with its ability to score points, and we’ll quickly learn how the beleaguered defense will respond to a change in leadership. That would be a tall order in any week, but particularly going up against Ducks QB Bo Nix, who is up to 25 TD passes on the season with just two picks. Oregon RB Bucky Irving is also undoubtedly looking forward to testing the leaky Trojans’ front. USC QB Caleb Williams will again be faced with the prospect of having to be nearly perfect in hostile environs. His agility often helps him keep plays alive, but Ducks DEs Brandon Dorlis and Jordan Burch could prove harder to elude.

Why it could disappoint: Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but USC has to make this a shootout to keep it competitive. The Trojans very well could, but as long as Nix and Co. take care of the ball, any empty possessions their friends on the other platoon can generate will help the Ducks take control.

No. 8 Alabama at Kentucky

Time/TV: Noon ET, ESPN.

Why watch: The Crimson Tide essentially won the SEC West last week with their LSU victory, but they’ll make it official with a win here in Lexington. The Wildcats has had some moments this season, like a decisive drubbing of Florida, but has for the most part been overmatched by top-tier competition. Tide QB Jalen Milroe has made steady improvement with his passing accuracy, but as LSU learned last week he’s still equally dangerous as a running threat. He’ll likely draw added attention from Wildcats LB D’Eryk Jackson. The Kentucky offense is at its best when RB Ray Davis has room to operate, but that hasn’t been the case against the league’s more accomplished defenses. There are yards to be had against the Tide secondary if Wildcats QB Devin Leary isn’t under duress, but LB Dallas Turner produces a lot of that.

Why it could disappoint: History is not on the side of the Wildcats, who haven’t beaten the Tide since 1997. Kentucky must find some early success to keep its home fans involved, but a fast start from Alabama could put this on ice quickly.

Miami (Fla.) at No. 4 Florida State

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: In terms of the ACC race, the Seminoles are already guaranteed a spot in the conference championship game. They have larger goals, however, and the Hurricanes would like nothing better than to spoil them. But Miami enters this rivalry showdown with its own issues, particularly on the offensive side of the ball after a dismal showing in a loss to North Carolina State. Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke has looked out of sorts in recent weeks. There’s not much experience behind him, however, so he might be asked to tough it out against LB Kalen DeLoach and the hard-hitting Florida State front. Seminoles QB Jordan Travis was without his top two targets last week at Pittsburgh but spread the ball well among TE Jaheim Bell and others. Hurricanes LB Francisco Mauigoa will lead the effort to make his job difficult.

Why it could disappoint: Florida State tends to keep injury updates close to the vest, so the availability of WRs Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson won’t be known for sure until kickoff. If they remain sidelined the game’s excitement potential is diminished, but their presence would make a runaway more likely given the Hurricanes’ offensive woes.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – On the day Gary Stone died, he rang his nephew, Baltimore Ravens safety Geno Stone. The call woke Geno, and they continued talking as Geno drove to the Ravens’ facility to pick up some things for his home.

“That was the last time I talked to him,” Stone said.

Stone and his uncle, Gary, the brother of his mother, Erin, were close from the day he was born; Stone’s birth father wasn’t in his life, and along with his grandmother, the four formed a family unit. Taking Geno to his youth sporting events, Gary told Geno he was going to be the one to make it out of New Castle, Pennsylvania, and reach the big time.

As his athletic career progressed from being a three-sport athlete at New Castle Senior High to playing defensive back at the University of Iowa and then the NFL, Geno Stone said Gary would often forward him the links to articles that mentioned Stone.

“I was like, ‘Hey, I don’t want to see that stuff,’” Stone told USA TODAY Sports. “Now I wish I could get them articles he’d be sending me.”

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And there has been more ink spilled about Stone than ever these past two months. Entering Week 10, no player in the league has intercepted more passes than Stone, who has six – not bad considering he wasn’t even a part of the Ravens’ starting secondary when the season began.

Gary also always told Geno that one day his opportunity would come, and that he’d have to make the most of it when it arrived.

“I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of that so far,” Stone said. “There will be more opportunities to come to me. So I feel like I just got to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Making history while proving people wrong

After the Ravens drubbed the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, Stone wore a purple hoodie with the face of former Ravens safety and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed on the front. The franchise legend messaged Stone later that day.

“He told me to kind of keep doing what I’m doing,” Stone said. “He told me to reach out to him if I ever needed anything, so that was pretty cool, to get that text from him.”

For all of the elite defenders to wear a Ravens jersey, nobody has picked off more passes through the first nine games of a season than Stone – even Reed, who holds the Ravens’ single-season interception record with nine, doing so twice.

The props from Reed meant a lot to Stone, who – like many others – considers Reed the greatest safety of all time.

“Everybody expects that when I get a pick, I should be cribbin’ it,” Stone said, referring to the returns for touchdowns for which Reed became famous. “He’s definitely set the standard for the safety position … hard shoes to fill.”

Stone has intercepted a pass in four straight games. An interception against the Cleveland Browns would tie the franchise record set in 1996 by Eric Turner.

Following the Seahawks game, Stone was quick to remind the media that he had 10 interceptions his senior season at New Castle. His coach, Joe Cowart, said that is more of an accomplishment than it sounds.

“Even though teams throw the ball now – but still, high school football, you don’t see a lot of footballs in the air,” Cowart told USA TODAY Sports. “So for a guy to have 10 interceptions in one season is phenomenal.”

Cowart also noted that Stone had six picks the year prior.

“He’s accustomed to stealing passes,” said Cowart, who coached at New Castle from 2012-2021. “It’s just something he had a knack for. He just has an amazing feel for the game, great vision.”

College recruiters failed to see that, though. Perhaps they disregarded him as a prospect because of his size, listed at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds now. Three or four Power Five schools showed interest and promised that an offer was coming, Cowart said. It never did – until Iowa, needing a defensive back in that recruiting cycle, heard about him. Stone flipped his commitment from Kent State to the Hawkeyes and “he made that place home.”  

“Geno is of that nature – whatever it is, he has a steely determination that says, ‘I know I can do it. I will prove it when given my opportunity,’” Cowart said.

Stone played high school football with Marcus Hooker, the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker, a 2017 first-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts. Stone said he’s close with both brothers, and Malik set the standard for safeties from New Castle.

“So I just wanted to follow in his footsteps,” he said.

Cowart called Stone “a thermostat guy” – somebody who sets the temperature of the room. His demeanor from the time he was a teenager signaled that he had pro potential.

“Geno is just so, so strong-willed and strong-minded that he said, ‘Well, if it’s possible, I’m going to do it,’” Cowart said. “And I think he’s proving that with an exclamation point.

“All those strange, broken roads, where he was undervalued or misinterpreted, all those things did was, ‘Another guy to prove wrong. Another person to let know I am the guy.’ And that’s been very awesome to see.”

From practice squad to ‘playmaker’

Baltimore selected Stone, who left college after three seasons, with the fifth pick of the seventh round in 2020. His prospect grade on NFL.com rated him as a “candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad.”

The analysis proved true for the first stretch of his NFL career. Stone initially made the Ravens’ 53-man roster in 2020 but was waived and brought back on the practice squad. He was waived again the next month and signed with the Houston Texans.

“It’s like getting fired from any other job,” Stone said. “You got to take it on the chin, but at the end of the day, figure out a way to come back to work.”

After the season, he asked for his release from Houston after not appearing in a game for the team. Stone knew where he wanted to be. He appeared in 15 games in 2021 and all 17 the next season, starting seven.

“Players grow. Geno was a really good player last year, too,’ Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. ‘He played really well last year. The ball’s finding him. He’s finding the ball. I guess, probably, all of it goes together.’

Harbaugh added: “To make the plays, you have to be a playmaker. … Geno has established himself as a playmaker this year, and that’s really great to see.”

Playing time has never been a guarantee for Stone. This season, he’s started six of nine games with free safety Marcus Williams battling injuries. Kyle Hamilton is enjoying a solid second season in the league at the strong safety spot. But defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s scheme allows for versatility. All three could find themselves on the field at once, with Williams expected to return Sunday against Cleveland.

“It’s cool to see him finally be able to showcase his skills that we’ve all known that he’s had all along,” said Hamilton, one of Stone’s closest friends on the team. “It’s just the way the roster has worked out the past couple years, he’s been called upon to come fill in, whether it be injury or when we need him in a spot or whatever, and he’s done it. He’s done really well. He’s leading the league in picks, and I think he can get a lot more, so it’s dope to see.”