Club co-owner David Beckham affirmed that Inter Miami has continuously improved, even almost entering a new page of history
with the Leagues Cup championship thanks to the great work of Lionel Messi.
On the evening of August 19, Inter Miami played the final against Nashville. Messi continued to shine, scoring a wonderful left-footed curler to open the score.
Despite being tied 1-1 in 90 minutes of play, he and his teammates still won 10-9 in the penalty shootout to win the 2023 Leagues Cup.
Beckham admitted he felt nervous when watching the penalty kick series – which lasted up to 11 turns, forcing the two goalkeepers to take direct action.
“It’s not easy to watch a match end in such a way,” the former England player said in the Geodis Park tunnel. “Nashville fought strong, but this was Inter Miami’s night.”
Beckham then praised the new recruits arriving this summer, Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba: “This is like a movie, every time Messi scores, Busquets passes the ball or Alba runs. People say it like programmed, and that is the greatest compliment for these players. You watch them play and feel moved. Everything about their style of play is beautiful.”
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Inter Miami was founded in 2018. Two years later, they joined MLS, finishing in 19th, 20th and sixth place respectively over three seasons. Currently, Beckham’s team ranks bottom of the table after 22 matches in the 2023 season, including five wins, three draws and 14 losses. Before signing Messi , Inter Miami went through 11 consecutive games without winning.
But with the presence of the Argentine superstar, the team won all seven matches on the journey to winning the Leagues Cup. Messi personally contributed 10 goals. “A lot can happen in five weeks,” Beckham admitted. “Inter Miami seems to have changed its life, with many new things. We will enjoy this victory and then look to the future and continue to develop. We have the best players in the world and many academy players.” potential and that is very important. This is an emotional moment and a long journey for me.”
While waiting to receive the Cup, Messi surprised him by taking off his captain’s armband and giving it back to defender DeAndre Yedlin. When presenting the award, he also called Yedlin to come and lift the Cup together to where his teammates were waiting. Yedlin is a 30-year-old right back who joined Miami in February 2022 and was soon given the captain’s armband. But when Messi arrived, he had to cede the captain’s role to the 36-year-old superstar.
Yedlin said he was surprised by Messi’s actions, and affirmed that it was the senior who helped Inter Miami improve their mentality to always enter the match with a winning mentality. “I can’t say that was the team’s goal every time we took the field before,” he said. “This is only Messi’s seventh match with Inter Miami. It’s unbelievable that I can lift the title with Messi, and that says everything about his character.”
With Inter Miami defeating Nashville in the Leagues Cup final, Messi won 44 titles, surpassing former teammate Dani Alves to become the player with the most collective titles in football history. He will soon have a chance to increase the record when he and Inter Miami play the 2023 US Open semi-final against Cincinnati in Ohio at 6:00 a.m. on August 24, Hanoi time. If they reach the finals, they will meet Houston Dynamo or Real Salt Lake.
