MLS commissioner Don Garber has revealed how David Beckham’s move to America in 2007 eventually led to Inter Miami signing Lionel Messi.
The former England superstar’s move to the LA Galaxy sparked into life MLS as we now know it, with clubs given the freedom to sign players beyond the salary cap which in turn led to development of the league.
And Beckham’s move to LA has been viewed by many as the catalyst that would eventually bring Messi to MLS, with the Argentine signing for Inter Miami last summer, the franchise the former Galaxy star co-owns.
Garber said via Goal: “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.”
David Beckham has taken MLS to a new level with Inter Miami and Lionel Messi
One transfer has the potential to transform an entire league, and Messi has done just that with MLS, 17 years on since Beckham did the exact same thing.
The Manchester United and England legend is one of the most powerful figures in all of soccer, with Beckham now taking a place as one of the grand architects in American sports.
And had it not been for Beckham’s move to the Galaxy in 2007, it’s almost impossible to imagine a world where Messi has joined MLS, let alone one where Inter Miami even exists.
Indeed, Beckham has worked wonders in getting Messi to join Inter Miami, yet more work needs to be done of the Herons are to truly establish themselves as an ever-lasting force in the division.