David Beckham has publicly advocated for Lionel Messi to receive his ninth Ballon d'Or award. This endorsement follows Messi's significant achievement of scoring his 100th goal for Inter Miami, a pivotal moment that contributed to their triumph in the Campeones Cup. Beckham, a co-owner of Inter Miami, expressed his awe at having Messi as part of his team and highlighted the forward's remarkable contributions, particularly his stellar performance in the World Cup.
Beckham articulated that Messi's continued success is not coincidental but a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication. He pointed to Messi's dominant showing in the World Cup, where he was arguably the tournament's best player, as clear evidence of his deserving candidacy for the esteemed individual accolade. Despite the presence of other formidable talents such as Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham, Beckham firmly believes that Messi's consistent high-level play, even at 39 years old, distinguishes him from his peers.
The recent Campeones Cup final saw Messi open the scoring in the 24th minute, converting a pass from Luis Suárez to reach his century of goals in just 115 matches across all competitions. Later, Casemiro extended Inter Miami's lead to 2-0 with a header from a Messi corner kick. This victory marked another trophy for Inter Miami since Messi's arrival, adding to their Leagues Cup win in 2023, the Supporters' Shield in 2024, and the MLS Cup in 2025. Inter Miami is now set to host San Diego FC, currently standing second in the Eastern Conference.
Messi's enduring brilliance and his capacity to influence major tournaments and club competitions at an advanced stage of his career truly set him apart. His continued pursuit of excellence serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that with passion and perseverance, athletes can defy conventional age-related limitations and continue to achieve extraordinary feats.
