David Beckham returned to Los Angeles with Inter Miami as an MLS owner
David Beckham would have been reminded of his first stint in American football as he watched his all-star Inter Miami squad play the LA Galaxy on Sunday.
Nearly 17 years have passed since the former captain of England dealt for the Real Madrid Galacticos to become the face of American football in the film industry.
With an eye towards the future, Beckham included a condition in his contract when he signed with the LA Galaxy in 2007 that would have allowed him to eventually own an MLS team.
For merely $25 million, he was able to own a piece of American football one day thanks to a cunning financial decision made at the time.
So he would have been pleased to see that his influence is still being felt when he returned to Los Angeles last week alongside Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and their Miami teammates.
The rivalry that has been stoked in previous years has kept emotions high even if LA Galaxy hasn’t been very good on the pitch.
In a market previously dominated by LA Galaxy and its well-known players, the 2014 launch of LAFC has undoubtedly captured the interest of the community.
LAFC’s large ownership group includes NBA icon Magic Johnson and Hollywood actor Will Ferrell, both of whom have had a direct influence on MLS.
The play is held in the purpose-built BMO Stadium, which can accommodate 22,000 spectators and is home to Angel City FC of the NWSL. Celebrities frequently attend these games as well.
Driven by the goals of Carlos Vela, they advanced to the 2018 MLS Cup final but lost to Columbus Crew there. It is anticipated that LAFC will be competitive this season.
Tribalism in the city appears to have been sparked by their success, and games between the two—dubbed “El Trafico”—are always a big deal.
A record-breaking 82,110 spectators packed the Rose Bowl for the two teams’ July clash to witness LA Galaxy defeat them 2-1, setting a new MLS single-game attendance record.
In terms of LA Galaxy, they have not advanced past the round of eight in the playoffs since winning the MLS Cup in 2014 with Robbie Keane in the starting lineup.
Over that period, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Steven Gerrard have come and gone, but they still have Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, a former Manchester United player, as a household name up front and have the capable Riqui Puig, a former Barcelona playmaker, at their disposal.
Their performance on the first weekend of the season versus Inter Miami will undoubtedly be encouraging.
Through Dejan Joveljic, they were able to take the lead, and LA Galaxy were only prevented from winning all three points by a late burst of creativity from Messi and Jordi Alba.
Unlike their relatively new neighbours, they are anticipated to make the playoffs this season but are not likely to contend for the championship.
There’s no denying that football in Los Angeles and the United States is in better shape now than it was when Beckham came.
In 2007, his transfer from Real Madrid to California caused a stir in the football world due to the league’s lacklustre players and generally subpar facilities.
In the recently released Netflix documentary about his career, the former England captain’s early difficulties adjusting to life in Major League Soccer were exposed.
He remembered how, during one game, he was watching from the bench for substitutes, and the players’ talent level made him wonder if moving to America was the correct choice for him.
The American football lines that were still painted on the field confused him when he finally made it onto the pitch. He was momentarily unable to determine if the ball had left the play.
Beckham played 115 MLS games for the Galaxy by the time he left in 2012, winning two MLS Championships and scoring 18 goals.
In the present day, he shares ownership of Inter Miami with others. He was able to pull off the incredible Messi signing last season, and they took home the Leagues Cup, their first-ever title.
Messi’s signing by Inter Miami is all the more amazing when you know that he is still the official best player in the world, having just won his eighth Ballon d’Or.
On Sunday night, a video of Beckham declining to applaud Messi’s thrilling equaliser went viral.
Accompanying him from a suite were Hollywood celebrities Edward Norton and Liv Tyler, as well as Beckham’s sons Brooklyn, 24, and Cruz, 19.
Following Messi’s successful pullback from Alba, Beckham’s box burst, causing everyone in the vicinity of the Miami co-owner to get up and join in celebration.
However, Beckham maintained his composure and remained seated, unwilling to show contempt for his first American home.
Even though he suppressed his happiness after Messi scored, Beckham must have been thrilled to know he was instrumental in the development of the city’s football scene as he left Los Angeles and returned to Miami.
If Ashworth has his way, though, they will probably try to sign Potter because they think his character, demeanour, and attitude are just what the team needs to become great again.
