Lionel Messi has shared his admiration for David Beckham, revealing that the former England captain frequently joins in training sessions at Inter Miami.
Despite retiring from professional football in 2013, Beckham, now 49 and a co-owner of Inter Miami, remains actively involved with the team. His illustrious playing career included stints at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Milan, PSG, and LA Galaxy in MLS.
Beckham has been a part-owner of Inter Miami since 2014. Messi`s arrival in 2023, along with former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, significantly boosted the club`s profile. Inter Miami has also been invited to the expanded Club World Cup this summer by FIFA.
Messi, 37, expressed his continued amazement at Beckham`s presence and character. “The truth is impressive – David is a spectacular person,” Messi stated.
“Although he doesn’t come around here often, when he’s in town he does drop by for a few days. But we’ve also kept in touch outside the club, and we’ve shared moments when he’s in Miami as well.”
Messi further added, “He is a very simple person, very humble, someone who comes across as very approachable, and the truth is that he is a great person. It is strange to see him on the other side of football and not as a player any more, beyond what he is today and what he represents for the club.”
“But he still feels like a player because he comes here and goes out to the field. He wants to be close to the ball, in the training sessions and to be close to us. He tries that when he is here, and the most important thing is the simplicity and the closeness he has.”
“I did not know him and I did not expect anything, but I was surprised by his way of being,” Messi concluded.
Messi`s impact on Inter Miami has been immediate and significant, both on and off the field. He scored 10 goals in the Leagues Cup victory shortly after joining. The team also achieved the best regular season record in MLS last year, although they were later defeated in the playoffs.
