By Alfredo Echenique Lugo
Aug 30, 2024, 3:53 PM EDT
In the summer of 2023, MLS made a big splash in the transfer market that created a stir across the country. The arrival of recent world champion Lionel Messi to Inter Miami shook up the entire American sport.
One of the people most responsible for this signing was former player and co-owner of Inter Miami, David Beckham, who served as a bridge between the parties and ended up convincing the Argentine star to go to South Florida.
Just as Beckham himself did in 2007 when he signed with LA Galaxy after being a star at Real Madrid, Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami also caused a stir and initiated a greater interest in American soccer among young people.
Recently in an interview for Hot Ones Beckham said Inter Miami’s plan was to bring in the Argentine to inspire young Americans so the USMNT could reach a World Cup soon.
“Lionel Messi is good on the pitch, he is good off the pitch. He is a perfect professional and young people see Messi and are inspired by him, that is what we want to do and if we achieve that, the United States will be world champions at any time,” said the former British footballer.
Even Beckham himself cited how his arrival at LA Galaxy in 2007 served as an inspiration to young Americans to pay more attention to football in that country.
“This is how far you go when you talk about business and the contract. I came to LA Galaxy from Real Madrid as a player. It’s like a gift because I want to inspire the new generations of the country,” said Beckham.
Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami brought exponential economic growth to the franchise. It went from being valued at $300 million dollars to around $1 billion dollars in just one year.
Inter Miami is currently the leader of the MLS Eastern Conference and will compete to win its first local championship, after winning the Leagues Cup last season with Messi as a player.
Continue reading:
Messi returned to training with Inter Miami
Luis Suarez’s son went viral for his snub and forced greeting of Messi [VIDEO]
Luis Suarez equals Messi with MLS Player of the Week awards