The season may be almost over, but Lionel Messi and David Beckham weren’t stopped from cheering on their Inter Miami team in their final home match of the 2023 Major League Soccer season.
Messi was pictured in the stands for his team’s match against Charlotte on Wednesday evening, just 24 hours after scoring two goals to lead Argentina to a 2-0 win over Peru in World Cup qualifying. His bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko, was pictured nearby, as is now customary at Miami games.
Miami co-owner Beckham, meanwhile, took his seat at DRV PNK Stadium with his wife Victoria. But the stadium was noticeably sparse with supporters that evening, with many fans appearing to opt to stay away without Messi on the pitch and no hope of making the play-offs.
Before kickoff, Beckham mingled with some Miami fans who had made it, signing autographs and posing for selfies with the younger fans in attendance.
It was an impressive show of commitment from the 36-year-old Messi and came hours after he personally dismissed claims he could leave the MLS team on loan in January after his team failed to reach the post-season play-offs reach.
Lionel Messi watched Inter Miami again on Wednesday night – a day after his heroics for Argentina in their World Cup qualifying win against Peru
Miami co-owner David Beckham also joined in, signing shirts for young supporters
Beckham posed for photos with some fans watching the game against Charlotte
Beckham was watching the MLS match with his wife Victoria on Wednesday evening
Messi was linked with an emotional return to his boyhood team Barcelona, or a move to the Saudi league, but after Argentina’s win he said he was not going anywhere.
“It’s a shame (we didn’t qualify for the play-offs). We came very close,” Messi said. “I missed the last few games, we had several injuries.
‘The month of July was very difficult for us, we played every three days, we traveled. But we won a tournament, which is important for the club and for what comes next year.
“I will train, I will play our upcoming match (another match against Charlotte FC on Saturday) and I will try to get here (with the national team) in the best possible way in November,” Messi said.
‘Afterwards I will enjoy the holiday in Argentina. It is the first time that I have more days off in December, during the holidays, with peace of mind, with my people.
‘I’ll be back in January to do the preseason. Start all over again and, as always, prepare as best you can.”
Miami has two friendlies in China in early November, shortly before Argentina plays Uruguay and Brazil in the next round of World Cup qualifying.