The atmosphere surrounding Lionel Messi’s most recent match at the Dignity Health Sports Park featured the kind of energy, anticipation and hype that permeated the place when an England international called it home.
David Beckham, that international, propelled Major League Soccer into global significance during his 5 1/2 seasons with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Messi – who became the first MLS player to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or last year as a member of Inter Miami – now becomes the league’s focal point to expand that influence in his first full season.
But without Beckham, the idea of Messi playing in MLS would resemble a children’s fantasy.
“If not for him, there’s no Leo Messi,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “Somebody wrote this article or a headline that said, ‘Will David Beckham change the course of soccer in America?’ He didn’t just do it once. He did it twice.”
Beckham, one of Inter Miami’s co-founders and co-owners, not only brought over the Argentine superstar but also turned the club into the Miami chapter of the FC Barcelona Alumni Association by signing three of his former club teammates: Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
All four started Sunday night against the Galaxy, with Messi and Alba combining on a picturesque goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage time that forced a 1-1 draw.
Messi began the sequence by intercepting Miguel Berry’s clearance. Argentina’s captain then executed a series of passes with Alba as both advanced toward the net. Messi had to lunge to receive Alba’s final ball, a cross from the left side of the penalty area. But Messi slid forward and used his left foot to tap a rising 8-yard shot under the crossbar.
The crowd of 27,642 – the largest in 10 years and the biggest for a Galaxy regular-season match in the stadium’s history – erupted. Messi and Alba hugged. The crowd responded with chants of “Me-ssi, Me-ssi, Me-ssi!”
That crowd included more than 30 stars from entertainment and sports – including Novak Djokovic, Edward Norton, Halle Berry, Liv Tyler and Halle BerryHalle Berry.
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Meanwhile, as everyone in his suite reacted with exuberance, Beckham savored Messi’s goal with stoic satisfaction.
“Everybody sees…