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Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham recently hailed Lionel Messi as a gift. The Argentinean superstar has transformed the Florida-based club since joining them in 2023.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner arrived at the Chase Stadium last year following the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Lionel Messi had an immediate impact with the Herons, helping them win the Leagues Cup last season.
It was Inter Miami's first trophy in their short history. The Argentinean followed that up by helping them win the Supporters' Shield this season. The 37-year-old is now preparing for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Beckham insisted that Lionel Messi will inspire a generation of Americans to embrace football.
“When you bring someone like Leo to America, I always said that it was our gift. As an ownership group and as a person who owns the club, I wanted to do something for the game," said Beckham.
He continued:
“But I also wanted to do something for America, because they’ve given me so much over the years and they’ve given me so much love, that to bring Leo to inspire the next generation of players in America, that’s what we wanted to do."
He concluded:
“With Leo, we knew what we were bringing and I knew that he was going to be successful on the field, but I also knew he was going to help our club off the field.”
Recent reports have also suggested that the Argentinean has had a tremendous impact on Inter Miami's finances. The MLS side have registered record profits since the former Barcelona man's arrival, while the player has also helped them secure multimillion-dollar sponsorship deals.
How has Lionel Messi performed for Inter Miami this season?
Lionel Messi has shown no signs of slowing down with Inter Miami this season. The Argentinean has registered 19 goals and 12 assists from 21 games across competitions so far.
His efforts have helped the Herons finish at the top of the Eastern Conference table in the MLS. The Florida-based club are now preparing to compete in the MLS Cup playoffs and will be counting on their talisman to help them go all the way.
Messi has also been indispensable for Argentina this year. He was in the thick of things this summer as La Albiceleste lifted another Copa America title. The Inter Miami man recently made news by scoring his 10th hattrick for his country against Bolivia in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He also provided two assists in the game, helping them win 6-0.
