In one of the most touching and unforgettable revelations of his career, David Beckham has opened up about the exact moment he found out that Lionel Messi — the greatest player in football history — had decided to join Inter Miami. The football legend, co-owner of the MLS club, shared an emotional and deeply personal story that perfectly captures what the signing meant to him, to his family, and to the world of football.
“It was 5 a.m. in Japan,” Beckham recalled in an interview that left fans across the globe in awe. “We were sleeping, and the phone just wouldn’t stop ringing. Victoria told me to turn it off, saying we needed to sleep. Then I put on my glasses, looked at my phone, and saw the message: ‘Leo Messi has decided to come to Inter Miami.’”
Beckham paused for a moment before adding, “Just saying it gives me goosebumps. I sat up in bed and started crying. Victoria looked at me, completely shocked, and asked what had happened — if someone had died. I said, ‘No, it’s Leo. It’s Messi. The greatest footballer in history is coming to play for us.’”
The story, now going viral across social media, has given fans a rare look into the emotional side of Beckham — a man known for his calm and composed public image. But for Beckham, who spent years trying to elevate soccer in the United States, Messi’s arrival represented not just a dream come true, but the validation of everything he had worked toward since founding Inter Miami.
“When I spoke with Jorge Más, my partner at the club, I told him to go to the airport immediately,” Beckham said, laughing. “I told him, ‘You have to be there when he gets off the plane — because what if it’s not Leo? What if we accidentally signed his brother?!’” Beckham chuckled before growing emotional again. “But it was him. It was the real Leo Messi. And at that moment, I knew football in America would never be the same again.”
The signing of Messi by Inter Miami in 2023 marked a monumental shift not only for Major League Soccer but for the sport’s global landscape. Stadiums across the U.S. began selling out within minutes, TV ratings skyrocketed, and the pink Inter Miami jersey became a worldwide sensation. For Beckham, however, the moment was deeply personal — the culmination of years of belief, risk, and relentless effort to bring the world’s best talent to American soil.
“I always believed something special would happen here,” Beckham said. “But Messi? That’s beyond special. That’s history.”
Fans have since flooded Beckham’s social media with messages praising his vision and passion. One fan wrote, “He didn’t just bring Messi to Miami — he brought magic to America.”
As Beckham himself put it: “From the moment I saw that message, I knew everything had changed. Messi wasn’t just coming to play football — he was coming to make dreams real.” 💖⚽