As Miami and Messi take a break until early 2024, co-owner David Beckham, renowned for his tenure with LA Galaxy, Real Madrid, Milan, PSG, and Manchester United, discussed Messi’s profound impact on Major League Soccer.

In an interview with AFP, Beckham emphasized Messi’s transformative influence on the league’s perception and revealed the motivations behind Inter Miami’s pursuit of the Argentine superstar, aiming to catalyze soccer growth across all levels in the United States.

“When someone tells me Lionel Messi plays for Inter Miami, I still can’t believe it. As an owner, I’m immensely proud to have him. We knew bringing Leo to the United States, not just Miami, was a gift for the country and the MLS. Someone like him changes everything; he’s an inspiration for an entire generation of players. That’s why we wanted Leo on the team. Of course, we also aim to win titles and become the league’s best club. But one of the reasons for signing him was to have Messi inspire the next generation of players in the USA, to ignite the desire to be a soccer player. Messi possesses that power,” explained Beckham to AFP, echoing his experience during his time at LA Galaxy while highlighting Messi’s transformative potential for the future of soccer in the United States.