MLS commissioner Don Garber admitted that without David Beckham joining the league in 2007, Messi wouldn't be at Miami in 2024.
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MLS commissioner does Q&AReveals Beckham influence on Messi transferLeague learned a lot from 2007 superstar moveWHAT HAPPENED?
Speaking to ESPN in a Q&A session, Garber revealed how important the 2007 arrival of Beckham was to the league, and how integral it was to bringing in someone like Messi to Inter Miami. After joining the LA Galaxy, the Englishman brought worldwide status to the league, with both Manchester United and Real Madrid fans following his blockbuster move to the USA.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT MLS COMMISSIONER DON GARBER SAID
"There's no Messi in MLS if David didn't come into our league in 2007. It really was the first real statement that MLS can be a league of choice for the top, most well-known players in the world. And David's experience, albeit a little challenging in the beginning, was just fantastic for him, for the Galaxy, for the league, and really morphed into him becoming an owner in MLS. I can't imagine what MLS would be like if David didn't make that decision. If he didn't make that decision, I'm not sure what MLS would look like today."
Garber followed it up by admitting the league did indeed learn some big lessons from Beckham's transfer, while adding what attributes a player of that caliber needs to be successful on and off the pitch in MLS.
"I think some of the lessons are that you can't just take a big-name player and put them on the field and expect that everything is going to work perfectly. That player needs to really believe in the league, you need to manage around him and ensure that his family is well positioned and ensure, again, that it's the right fit for the club. And that's worked so well in so many cases, but it hasn't worked well in others. So I think it's not just about the experience with David, it really is the experience with all of the well-known, big-name players from overseas who've come into MLS. Some of them have worked really well, and some of them haven't. And by the way, that's OK."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
After Messi signed for Inter Miami last summer, he instantly connected and linked-up with Beckham, who played a key role in orchestrating the move for the Herons. In his first season in MLS, Messi was a finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year, won the Inaugural Leagues Cup – while being named tournament MVP and claiming the Golden Boot – and also won his eighth Ballon d'Or over Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
Now, 2024 awaits, and it's an exciting time for both MLS and Inter Miami fans.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI AND MLS?
The Herons are back in action Wednesday evening, opening up their 2024 campaign against Real Salt Lake. Then, it's a Sunday clash against the LA Galaxy in a big match for Beckham, as the Inter Miami co-owner will visit his former club.