A “gift to America and MLS”, David Beckham “proud” to have attracted Lionel Messi to Miami

Do England have any chances at Euro 2024 which will take place in Germany next June and July? David Beckham: I really have faith in this England team. I believe in Gareth Southgate (the coach, Editor's note), in what he has been doing for several years. We unfortunately lost in the Euro final against Italy (in July 2021) but we came very close to victory. When our national team succeeds, the whole country comes together in an incredible way. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think that at Euro 2024 we really have our chances, with young players like Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and the others. And of course there is our captain Harry Kane, who continues to be an example for the team and score goals.

What did Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami mean to you? When someone tells me that Lionel Messi plays for Inter Miami, I still can't believe it. As an owner, I am very proud to have the best player in the world on the team. We knew that bringing Léo to the United States, not just to Miami, was a gift to America and to MLS. Because someone like him is a game-changer, he is an inspiration for a whole generation of players. That's why we wanted Leo on the team. Of course, we also want to win titles, to be the best team in the championship. But one of the reasons to sign him was to be an inspiration to the next generation of players in the United States. Make you want to become a soccer player (the American term which differentiates it from American football, Editor's note). Messi has this power.

You have been a Unicef ​​global ambassador since 2015, what role can football play with disadvantaged children? I have always said that sport has a huge role to play with children. Football, cricket, basketball and other sports have a great responsibility to help them in their emancipation. In my own career, football allowed me to develop the ability to lead, work in a team, discipline myself and stay focused. He gave me confidence. While traveling to villages all over the world with Unicef, I saw children's faces light up when they touched football. They forget their problems when they play.