David Beckham lauds Lionel Messi, says “What Leo has done for Inter Miami is incredible, he’s taken it to a whole new level”

Lionel Messi, David Beckham (Pic: File Pic)

Former Manchester United football player David Beckham, who was recently in India for the second time in two years spoke about many things during a session with Indian actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Mumbai, but among them he also spoke about his love for the game, and without a doubt the influence of world class player Lionel Messi. The timing couldn't be better as they were in the middle of a title race that ended up the duo's team Inter Miami winning their first MLS crown with goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende, both of whom, received assists from Messi.

With football easily being his first love, Samantha asked him more about the game during the session, which was a part of the House of Instagram's Creator event by Meta which saw some of India's most popular content creators in fashion, food, travel and tech come together but not without sports took centre stage with Beckham, as he is more popularly known, there. Being one of the world's most loved footballers, having played for not only The Red Devils, but also Spanish team Real Madrid, and the English national side, he dived into everything about the sport.

Influence of Inter Miami and Lionel Messi

Being the co-owner of the popular American club Inter Miami, which is one of the top clubs of the Major Soccer League, Beckham, who recently received knighthood by King Charles, spoke about that very experience. He shared, "We're very lucky, firstly, to have a team in Miami. Miami is such a vibrant place. It's similar to India in the fact that the people, the colours, the vibrancy, the energy is truly incredible. To start the team in Miami, it was a big challenge, but a challenge that I knew would be worth it. I promised people in Miami, people in America, that we would bring the best players to this city and to the country."

It just so happened, he adds, that the club brought Lionel Messi, the greatest player to ever play the game to Miami. "We're very lucky. I feel very privileged. What Leo has done for our club has been incredible. He's taken it to a whole new level but more importantly, he's a great person. I know he's coming to India pretty soon, which will be amazing."

Clearly happy with the team, Beckham said winning as a player and coach is no different. He shares, "Winning a trophy as a player, winning a trophy as a manager is exactly the same feeling with the pride that you have." However, there is one difference while watching the match, he added. "The difference is in watching a match as a player and watching a match as an owner. That is what is different because as a player, you're playing in a match and if you're losing, you can kind of do something about it. When you're losing as an owner, there's nothing you can do about it. You have to sit there and be frustrated. But winning a trophy is the greatest feeling in the world."