David Beckham has shared images of the heartwarming moment in which his mother met Inter Miami and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi for the first time. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been in the United States since 2023, with a stunning move being made to South Florida, but he has only just rubbed shoulders with members of Beckham’s immediate family.
American dream: Messi has been in the States since 2023
Messi is in America alongside his wife Antonela and their three sons. They settled quickly in Miami after taking the decision to bid farewell to Europe. Messi enjoyed a record-shattering spell with Barcelona, before then spending two years in France with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.
A large Spanish-speaking community in the Sunshine State has made adjustment easier for the Messi clan, with the World Cup winner enjoying freedom in his personal life that was often denied him at Camp Nou and Parc des Princes.
AdvertisementMessi settled in America around friends and family
Manchester United and England legend Beckham helped to make Messi’s switch to the USA possible, as he is a co-owner of Inter Miami. He has also been able to bring in Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul – as Messi finds himself surrounded by close friends.
Alba and Busquets have announced that they will be retiring at the end of the 2025 MLS campaign, with Inter Miami readying themselves for the start of another play-off quest, but the expectation is that Messi will be sticking around.
He has enjoyed mingling with the Beckhams in Florida – including former Spice Girls popstar Victoria – and was among those to attend a lavish 50th birthday celebration for ex-Three Lions captain David.
Messi has now met up with Beckham’s mother, after seeing Sandra attend a Herons training session. The Argentine GOAT was happy to pose for pictures as Becks posted on social media – with everybody full of smiles: “When your Mum meets Leo for the first time.”
How Beckham talked Messi into MLS move
Beckham has previously said of talking Messi into making a move to MLS: “All he was interested in is a place where his family could come enjoy and have a great life. That was really important for Leo. I mean, from day one, from the moment he put his foot down in Miami, it's been a dream, honestly.
To be able to say that we've signed the world's greatest ever player to ever play the game. Everybody's got their opinion on who they think is the best player of all time – whether it be Diego Maradona, Pele, all of these great players.
“But to say that we have in the MLS, in Miami, the greatest player to play the game, it's just like a dream, you know? It's a dream every time that I'm there. If I go for the whole of the summer, which I went for four weeks this summer, I go into training every single day because, personally, I can't believe we've got Leo. Secondly, I just want to watch what he does. And that's a special thing for us.”
GettyTrophy target: Messi chasing down more silverware
Messi helped Inter Miami to their first piece of major silverware within weeks of his arrival, as the 2023 Leagues Cup crown was captured. In 2024, the Herons savoured Supporters’ Shield glory when posting the highest regular season points tally that MLS has ever seen.
They have graced the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup since then, but have been unable to secure more domestic or continental honours. Collective sights at Chase Stadium are locked on landing the MLS Cup.
Messi will have a leading role to play in that quest, having claimed the Golden Boot for 2025 with a 29-goal haul. He also registered 19 assists, with records continuing to tumble around the South American superstar.
A contract extension has been lined up for the evergreen 38-year-old – which may take him beyond his 40th birthday, as he emulates the achievements of eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo who is still going strong at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. Beckham, who is now a Sir after being knighted in King Charles’ Birthday Honours List, will be helping to thrash out those fresh terms.
