David Beckham paid a heartfelt tribute to Inter Miami after their season concluded last weekend, marking a special moment for the club as they celebrated their first piece of silverware. Joining David for a night out in Vice City were global football stars Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, who played pivotal roles since joining the club mid-July.
Inter Miami’s season reached its conclusion with a game in Charlotte, North Carolina, which ended in a 1-0 loss to The Crown. Unfortunately, the Herons had previously been eliminated from playoff contention following a loss to Cincinnati FC (0-1) earlier in the month.
However, Miami had a triumphant moment back in August when they secured the Leagues Cup with a dramatic victory over Nashville SC (1-1, 10-9 on penalties). Lionel Messi emerged as the top scorer of the competition with an impressive 10 goals, while Sergio Busquets featured in all of Miami’s cup matches.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, David Beckham, the former England captain, expressed his thoughts on the season, saying, “Another season complete at this incredible football club… and what a season it has been. I want to personally thank the players, the staff, and, of course, our amazing fans, La Familia, for the special journey that we have been on together. This is an important chapter in our story, and one we can all be very proud of. We go again next year… Vamos #FreedomToDream.”
Lionel Messi also shared his sentiments, describing his first season in South Florida as ‘incredible’ and expressing how ‘proud’ he is to be part of the club’s history.
Looking ahead, Inter Miami players are preparing for the club’s first-ever international tour, with Messi and his teammates set to play two friendly matches in China on November 5 and November 8. Subsequently, Messi will join the Argentina national team for World Cup qualifiers on November 16 and November 21. Following these commitments, he is expected to take an extended break before Inter Miami begins preparations for the 2024 season.
Messi’s commitment to his fitness and form during the MLS season meant that he ruled out a possible return on loan to Barcelona. The MLS season typically spans from mid-October to late February or early March, depending on the year.
In recent leisure time, Messi was spotted at an Ed Sheeran concert at Hard Rock Live, accompanied by his three kids and his wife, Antonela, on a Sunday evening.
Throughout the season, the 36-year-old Messi showcased his scoring prowess, netting 11 goals in 14 matches for Miami. The team secured victory in 13 out of 21 games since the World Cup winner’s arrival, and they concluded the 2022-23 MLS season as the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference, finishing only ahead of Toronto.