Would you like to watch Messi play for Miami’s MLS club? He hinted at the possibility
David Beckham has already received a slew of congratulatory messages after it became official Monday that he was awarded Major League Soccer’s 25th franchise.
One of the latest to do so: Fellow soccer phenom Lionel Messi.
A video of Messi, the 30-year-old FC Barcelona striker from Argentina, surfaced on social media Monday night congratulating David Beckham for his new MLS franchise. In the 15-second Spanish-spoken interview, Messi even hinted at possible interest in joining Beckham’s club.
“First of all congratulations,” Messi said. “I wanted to wish you all the best in this project, this new role for you. And who knows? Maybe in a few years you can give me a call.”
Leo Messi felicitó a David Beckham por su nueva franquicia en la MLS y ¿se viene un llamado de emergencia baby desde Estados Unidos? pic.twitter.com/xz0H5fZgsf
— Pasión Fútbol (@PasionFutbolFC) January 30, 2018
While a potentially promising sign for Miami soccer fans who are already anticipating the team’s 2020 MLS debut, nothing is likely to happen just yet.
Messi, a five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or award given annually to the top soccer player, signed a contract with FC Barcelona in September that locked him into the team until the 2020-21 season. The contract’s buyout clause: $835 million.
Messi isn’t the first athlete to congratulate Beckham nor is he the first person asking Beckham for an opportunity to play. At the announcement ceremony Monday, Beckham’s camp played a video in which more than 15 celebrities — including Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Jay-Z and Jennifer Lopez — expressed support for Beckham’s endeavor.
Former Jamaican Olympian sprinter Usain Bolt told Beckham that “if you need a striker, I’m the guy. If you need goals, I’m the guy.”
This story was originally published January 30, 2018 at 1:24 PM with the headline "Would you like to watch Messi play for Miami’s MLS club? He hinted at the possibility."