Major League Soccer

NEVER mind that David Beckham was a hugely gifted footballer —  he’s quite a smart operator, too.Remember Woody Allen’s Zelig, always popping up in historic places among famous faces?
David Beckham can help make US soccer greatCredit: Reuters
Alongside his new star man Lionel MessiCredit: Reuters
Beckham has signed Messi for Inter MiamiCredit: Getty
Beckham is like that. From London’s Olympic bid to the queue to visit the Queen lying in state, Becks was there.
No one minds that. Or him. He smiles well, talks confidently and he is almost wholly liked across the world but for one thing — those 60-odd tattoos from knee to neck.
Still, he’s a go-getter and he went and got a player even better known than himself . . . Lionel Messi, who also rather likes a spot of body art.
One leg, revealed only when his football socks are around his ankles, might just have been dipped in tar.
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When Inter Miami part-owner Beckham helped create the MLS club in 2018, the mental barrier that  US males have towards “soccer” barely moved.
Until the top brass at the Fort Lauderdale stadium had a brainwave: Get Messi!
They had a persuasive argument as Messi already had a home in Miami — and was keen to take his family over.
He was reportedly offered up to  £400million a year to join Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia — more than double what Al-Nassr are said pay his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Former Real Madrid megastar CR7 is said have eight homes and no tattoos.
The pressure on Messi, now 36, after Argentina’s triumphant World Cup campaign last season was huge.
Cristiano Ronaldo now plays for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-NassrCredit: Getty
Messi and Argentina won the world cup last seasonCredit: Getty
Victoria Beckham is a regular attendee to Inter Miami’s games with DavidCredit: AFP
On joining Miami, Messi said: “I want to get back to enjoy myself, to enjoy my family, my children.”
Paris Saint-Germain had become a chore.
He may have chosen to return to Barcelona — where he won four Champions League crowns, ten LaLiga titles and more — but they had run out of ultra-money.
Beckham missed a few chances on the field but hardly any at all in business.
I have long suspected his wife — former Spice Girl Victoria  — has played a major part in his off-pitch success.
He has the smile, she has the brains.
So, they moved across the US from Los Angeles to Miami and soon — with billionaire brothers Jorge and Jose Mas — obtained an MLS franchise.
When it was clear Messi (below) was  leaving Paris, Beckham was the obvious channel for a US transfer.
His old Barca pals Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba followed.
A-listers headed to the Florida coast to watch the new team.
Inter Miami will have a new stadium in two years, no doubt holding well above the current 21,000 capacity.
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Messi, naturally, scored on his MLS debut in last week’s 2-0 win over New York Red Bulls.
I’m sure it’s the start of a US soccer surge but there is lots of work to do. If anyone can do it, I am sure David Beck-ham can.
Jordi Alba has reunited with Messi at Inter MiamiCredit: Getty
Sergio Busquests has aldo joined the Florida clubCredit: Getty More

LIONEL MESSI did not speak to the media after Inter Miami’s clash with Nashville last night.MLS rules state that players must be made available to the press after games.
Lionel Messi was in action against Nashville last nightCredit: Getty
The Argentine has given one press conference since moving to the USCredit: Getty
Messi, 36, was also reportedly not made available after his MLS debut against New York Red Bulls last weekend.
And according to the Mail, he was once again a no-show last night.
Ahead of the match, MLS executive vice-president Dan Courtemanche had reiterated that all players, including Messi, must be made available to the press after matches.
It has not yet emerged whether Inter Miami will be sanctioned for Messi’s no-shows.
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It came after a frustrating night on the pitch for Messi as the former Barcelona star showed he is human after all.
The Miami superstar has been a spectacular, runaway success since making his debut six weeks ago, leading David Beckham’s team to a first piece of silverware and firing the beautiful game into the American mainstream.
Before last night, Miami had won nine out of nine, including three penalty shoot-out wins.
It’s been a magical run, with Messi bagging 11 goals in the process.
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But against a tough, resolute Nashville last night, the Miami fans who have flocked to Fort Lauderdale, hopeful of another 90 minutes of football majesty, were brought back down to earth ever so slightly.
A gritty 0-0 draw against one of the toughest teams in MLS – who were beaten by Tata Martino’s side just 12 days ago when Miami lifted the Leagues Cup – wasn’t a complete disaster.
They probably need to win at least seven wins from the remaining 10 to help mount what would be a miraculous surge into the end of season play-offs.
Despite the cup heroics – Miami are also in the Open Cup final in a few weeks too – they resumed their league campaign rock bottom and owners of the worst record in MLS.
Messi inspired his team to an impressive win on the road at the New York Red Bulls last weekend yet on his first League start at home last night, he was off the pace.
The 36 year-old ran his socks off, desperately trying to rouse his pals in pink.
Yet, for once, it just didn’t happen.
And Messi’s side were even left riding their luck during a nervy finale, especially when Nashville looked certain to be awarded a penalty after a DeAndre Yedlin handball only for VAR to rule there was an offside in the build-up.
With just seconds left, Messi weaved into the box but just couldn’t seal the deal.
It was simply one of those nights – even for the greatest of them all.
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David Beckham’s MLS side trail the Eastern Conference’s play-off positions by ten points.
Messi and Co are next set to be in action on Sunday evening, when they travel to face LAFC.
Messi has been in stellar form since moving to MLSCredit: Rex More

FANS went wild after Lionel Messi scored for Inter Miami after the team put together a brilliant build-up passage of play.The Argentine star continued to impress at his new club as he netted his first goal in the MLS.
Jordi Alba played an outrageous pass to Lionel MessiCredit: Twitter
Messi then picked a brilliant through ball to Benja CremaschiCredit: Twitter
Who then played the ball back across goal
For Messi to tap home
It is his 11th goal for Inter MiamiCredit: Getty
Messi, 36, has now managed 11 goals in his first seven appearances for the US outfit.
He had only featured in the Leagues Cup and the US Open Cup before making his debut in the MLS.
Inter Miami were facing New York Red Bulls and had taken the lead in the 37th minute through Diego Gomez.
But it was in the 89th minute that Inter Miami showed their new talent with former Barcelona stars such as Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets all linking up together.
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Busquets played an aeriel ball into the box which was then outrageously bicycle-kicked by Alba to Messi.
The forward then made a ridiculous pass through two defenders to the rushing Benja Cremaschi who then returned the ball to Messi for an open goal tap-in.
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One fan tweeted: “Messi has these guys playing like prime Barcelona.”
A second commented: “What kind of pass is that… Is Messi mad!? What kind of unrealistic pass is that!!!”
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A third wrote: “Messi’s innovation there was just next level. Come on man! How do you make a pass like that!”
A fourth said: “Messi is a cheat. He has to tell us who he really is. Not human.”
A fifth added: “These are the passes you do in FIFA 23 not real life – 5D vision.”
While another joked: “Bro is inventing football hacks.”
Inter Miami went on to win the game 2-0 and have climbed off the bottom of the Western Conference as they leapfrogged Toronto into 14th.
Earlier in the week, Messi’s wife hilariously hugged Alba during celebrations – with fans convinced Antonela Roccuzzo did not recognise he was not her husband. More

LIONEL MESSI’S wife Antonela seems to be only person in America who doesn’t recognise him.The football icon’s other half was seen hugging his teammate Jordi Alba in a hilarious case of what seemed like mistaken identity.
Antonella got confused between Messi and Jordi AlbaCredit: Twitter / @Futbol_DAM
She then realised at the last moment before laughing it offCredit: Twitter / @Futbol_DAM
Messi, 36, now plies his trade with David Beckham’s MLS side Inter Miami.
And the World Cup winner has lifted his first trophy since leaving PSG this summer.
Messi scored early in regulation and converted the first spot kick as Inter Miami beat Nashville SC 10-9 on penalties in the League Cup final.
And afterwards is wife Antonela Roccuzzo, 35, joined the on pitch celebrations to congratulate her superstar husband.
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However, some eagle-eyed fans believe that Antonela mistook Jordi Alba for her husband.
In a hilarious interaction, the Argentine model, approached Alba with her arms stretched ready to embrace him, only to realise moments before that it was not her husband.
The two laughed as they moved their heads crossways, before hugging from a distance.
The disordered moment left fans in hysterics, one said: “Antonella thought Alba was Messi 😂.”
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Another added: “They were both lost😂”.
A third wrote: “In her defence, they do look the same from a distance”.
A fourth chimed: ” I TOLD YOU THEY ARE TWINS”.
But a fifth disagreed: “She knew it was Jordi. They probably didn’t hug because of how sweaty he must be”.
Alba was reunited with his Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, after signing as a free agent.
The full-back left the Catalan giants earlier this year after 11 glittering seasons since joining from Valencia in 2012.
The couple are enjoying life in South FloridaCredit: Instagram
Antonela has recently been partying with Victoria BeckhamCredit: Instagram More

DAVID BECKHAM has said that people who are suggesting Inter Miami’s recent wins are a “fix” is paying the team the “biggest compliment anyone can give”. Inter Miami defeated FC Cincinnati 5-4 on penalties to make the final of the US Open Cup after a comeback from two goals down.
David Beckham hits back at “fix” claims against Inter MiamiCredit: Reuters
The team owned by the England legend found themselves 2-0 down only for Lionel Messi to help them get back into the game with two assists.
It went to extra-time with the score ending 3-3 before the Argentine star converted his spot-kick to help his team win on penalties.
This comes just days after the former Barcelona trio of Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba helped the US side to their first silverware.
Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup after beating SC Nashville on penalties.

After the latest victory, the former Manchester United midfielder responded to “fix” claims when a reporter stated their recent matches almost appeared to be scripted.
Beckham said: “Every time Messi scores one of these goals.
“Every time Sergio Busquets makes one of these passes.
“Every time Jordi Alba makes one of these runs, people say ‘Is it a fix?’.
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 “It’s the biggest compliment that anyone can give these players because it is like a movie. 
“You watch these players play and it’s emotional because everything about their play is beautiful.
“Everything about their mannerisms is beautiful and everything about them as individuals, off the pitch, is beautiful.”
Inter Miami will now play Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup final on September 27.
They have now gone eight matches unbeaten since the arrivals of Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
The 2022 World Cup winner has scored ten goals in eight games since moving to the States.
Lionel Messi has scored ten goals for Inter MiamiCredit: Alamy More