Lionel Messi has revealed how David Beckham still participated in training in Inter Miami.
Former English skipper Becks, 49, hung up his boots in 2013 after a career that brought him to Manchester United, Real Madrid, Milan, PSG and a five-year MLS stint to La Galaxy.
He has been involved in the ownership of Inter Miami since he exercised his £ 20m option to buy a franchise “expansion team” in 2014.
The arrival of Messi in Florida in 2023 led to an increase in interest and his side – including former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – was awarded controversially to a berth on the extensive club of this summer by FIFA.
And the Argentinian superstar, 37, said he was still bent by Beckham.
Messi said: “The truth is impressive – David is a spectacular person.
“Although he does not come here often, he comes by for a few days when he is in the city.
“But we also kept in touch outside the club and we shared moments when he is also in Miami.”
Messi added: “He is a very simple person, very modest, someone who appears very approachable, and the truth is that he is a big person.
“It is strange to see him on the other side of football and not as a player, further than what he is today and what he represents for the club.
“But he still feels like a player because he comes here and goes to the field.
“He wants to be close to the ball, in the training sessions and be close to us.
“He tries that when he is here and the most important thing is the simplicity and proximity he has.
“I didn't know him and I didn't expect anything, but I was surprised by his way of being.”
World Cup winner Messi immediately had an impact on Inter Miami, both on and outside the field.
Messi scored 10 goals when Miami won the Concacaf Leagues Cup immediately after his arrival.
Then they earned the MLS supporters shield last year for the best record in the regular season, but they were defeated by Atlanta United in the first round of the play-offs.