Whenever Lionel Messi discusses his decision to join Inter Miami, he’s quick to acknowledge the significant role David Beckham played in convincing him to make the move to Major League Soccer. The Manchester United icon has long dreamed of having Leo on his team, and as a result, he strives to keep him satisfied. But there’s one request the English legend hasn’t been able to fulfill—yet.
In an interview with Men’s Health, Beckham shared that whenever he makes an appearance at an Inter Miami training session, the team’s top stars, led by Messi, often approach him. “Do you know what, they’re always on at me, Leo, Luis (Suarez), Jordi (Alba), Sergio (Busquets),” he said. “They will turn around and say, ‘Come on, come on, join in!’”
Despite their persistent pleas, David continues to decline, citing the limitations imposed by his 49 years when it comes to competing with younger, active players. To illustrate his point, he shared an amusing anecdote.
“The funny thing was, the other day I was kicking a ball around for Adidas, doing some filming for my new Predator boots. I was doing some free kicks, pinging some long passes, and I got overly excited,” the Inter Miami owner began.
David Beckham speaks following a game between the Inter Miami and the New England Revolution at Chase Stadium on October 19, 2024.
“I got to the fifth, sixth, and seventh—and on the eighth one, I pinged it, and I was like, ‘Oh (expletive), my quad!’“ Beckham chuckled. “The guy filming asked if I could do a couple more. I was like, ‘No, I think we got it!’”
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Beckham has been retired for a long time
It’s understandable that Beckham no longer feels physically capable of even participating in playful competition with the Inter Miami players, especially considering he is turning 50 this year and has been retired from professional soccer for some time.
Beckham’s illustrious career spanned 21 years, with stints at top clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid, before concluding his playing days with the Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. His time with the French side marked the final chapter of his career, with the legendary midfielder retiring from professional soccer at the age of 38 after the 2012-13 season.
Messi’s impact on Beckham’s career
Although from different generations—Beckham 12 years Messi’s senior—the two have faced off on the pitch several times. The last meeting came in 2013, when Lionel was dazzling with Barcelona and David was winding down his career at Paris Saint-Germain. The two teams met that year in the Champions League, and something during that encounter would ultimately influence Beckham’s decision to end his career.
“I probably decided to retire when Messi was running past me,” Beckham recalled in an interview with Sky Sports a few years ago. “We were ahead. He came on and Barcelona scored,” David said of the 2013 Champions League match in which the Spanish giants advanced on penalties following a 3-3 aggregate draw. “Despite my age, I enjoyed playing, and the team was good in both games. We did things to be proud of. We didn’t lose to them.”
