data-mm-id=”_vu7ukxkjq”>Last year, David Beckham sold Lionel Messi on the vision for his Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, convincing the reigning World Cup winner and former Barcelona superstar to leave Europe and begin a new chapter of his legendary career in North America.Part of Beckham's sales pitch also included talk of the chance to leave a lasting legacy in American soccer. Sure, there was the obvious financial incentive of a two-and-a-half-year, $150 million contract, but Beckham convinced Messi, arguably the world's greatest soccer player ever, to view the opportunity as being more than just about the money.Beckham described it as a "gift" — with the ultimate present coming in the form of a World Cup title for the United States men's national team."It's a gift in a sense of 'I want to inspire the next generation of young kids that are playing in this country,'" Beckham said on "Hot Ones" with Sean Evans. "Because at some point, the U.S. will win the World Cup. At some point. And it needs moments like this where you bring someone of Leo's magnitude."He's good on the field. He's good off the field. He's the perfect professional. And so if you bring someone like that, then all of these young kids that are watching throughout America, going to watch him in their stadiums, in their city, get inspired. And that's really what we wanted to do."BECKS BELIEVES USA WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP 🇺🇸On David Beckham's appearance this week on the Hot Ones wings challenge, he believes the US will win the World Cup at some point because Messi will inspire young American kids.We love the USA too, but Beckham is dreaming. pic.twitter.com/GnS7cMPkWr— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) August 29, 2024Beckham knows how a single world soccer star can change the landscape in America. He experienced it himself when he shockingly moved from Real Madrid to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.His five-year, $250 million contract proved to European league stars that MLS could be a destination (as well as a nice late-career payday), and it forever altered the landscape of the league with new roster rules to increase spending on more talented players. Without Beckham's trailblazing, Messi never considers MLS as an option.As for Beckham's prediction of the USMNT winning a World Cup, the presence of Messi alone won't fulfill his football prophecy.While the U.S. has had talented players who've succeeded in Europe's top leagues — most recently AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic — it still has yet to produce a truly world-class player. Realistically, to win a World Cup, the U.S. men will need a transcendent talent — the American version of Messi.For now, USMNT success is defined by doing the simple things correctly, like hiring the right head coach.
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Tottenham ended a run of four games without a win in the Premier League in comfortable fashion on Saturday, Son reaching a landmark in the process.
After Kane s penalty put Spurs ahead, Son doubled their advantage with his 100th goal for the club, the England international unsurprisingly the provider.
It marked the 13th time the pair have combined for a goal in the Premier League in 2020-21, tying a record in a single season.
Toby Alderweireld converted Son s corner to make it 3-0 early in the second half as Spurs moved within four points of Liverpool and Manchester United at the top.…
Chelsea great Frank Lampard has taken his first step into management with his appointment at Championship club Derby County.
Lampard emerged as a frontrunner at the weekend and swiftly became the favourite when he revealed Derby s interest. He signed a three-year contract on Thursday.
The Rams were on the lookout for a new manager after Gary Rowett departed for Stoke City in the wake of Derby s play-off semi-final defeat to Fulham.
Lampard ended his playing career in 2016, as two brief spells with Manchester City and New York City followed his remarkably successful 13-year spell at Chelsea.
While some are likely to point at his lack of experience, the 39-year-old is confident in his abilities after learning from the likes of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelo…
Steven Gerrard has backed Aston Villa s decision not to sell Douglas Luiz to Arsenal on deadline day and does not foresee the failed transfer being an issue for the Brazil international.
Arsenal were widely reported to have made a move for Douglas Luiz on Thursday due to injury problems in their midfield.
It was claimed Villa were firmly opposed to a sale at a price Arsenal were willing to go to, though.
A bid of around £20million was said to be lodged, but Villa were instead holding out for £40m for a player in the final year of his contract.
Even with Gerrard s men bringing in fellow midfielder Leander Dendoncker from Wolves, no deal could be done, perhaps leaving Douglas Luiz a little disappointed.
Knowing the boy and the player, I doubt it …
Thomas Tuchel declared Bayern Munich are dying for revenge after their humbling by Manchester City as he revealed Manuel Neuer is stepping up his comeback from injury.
The Bayern head coach oversaw a 3-0 defeat at City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
It was only in the last quarter of the game that City brought down the hammer, taking advantage of generous defending from the Bundesliga leaders.
Many would suppose the tie is all but over, yet Tuchel does not see it that way, with Bayern looking to make their home advantage count in the second leg next Wednesday.
It s important not to lose focus, Tuchel said. The task seems almost impossible, but nothing is impossible in football. I can feel that we are dying for revenge …
Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury on Saturday.
The 20-year-old has added to the club s woes after colliding with Aston Villa s Antonio Luna during the 3-1 Premier League defeat, and it looks like it could see him out for a while.
Manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that the promising youngster will definitely miss the UEFA Champions League play-off match against Fenerbahce on Wednesday, with reports in the British media claiming that he could be out for as long as six months.
He is out, definitely out (for the Fenerbache clash), Wenger was quoted as saying by The Daily Mail.
It s a knee problem. It s a bad injury.
The England international has become a regular fixture for…
Barcelona can enter the New Year just one point behind Real Madrid, if they can surpass Cordoba in La Liga on Saturday.
Luis Enrique s men could not break down Getafe in a 0-0 stalemate last time out in the top flight but can put the pressure back on Carlo Ancelotti s leaders given the latter s league duties are complete for 2014, due to Club World Cup commitments.
Barca were also buoyed by an 8-1 Copa del Rey victory over Huesca on Tuesday, with Pedro on target with a hat-trick in the 12-1 aggregate triumph.
The meeting will be the sides first in La Liga, with Barca winning their Copa del Rey tie in 2012-13 7-0 on aggregate including a 5-0 win at Camp Nou.
Third-placed Atletico Madrid are also looking to bounce back from a last-start league slip-up in th…
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are working with captain Vincent Kompany to make sure he frees his mind and avoids overthinking any potential issues with his fitness.
Kompany was a last-minute withdrawal from the Belgium starting XI to face Netherlands in the international break, with national team boss Roberto Martinez stressing he was not injured, but did not feel right after the warm-up.
That was similar to City s EFL Cup match at Manchester United last month, when the defender asked to be withdrawn at half-time as he did not feel ready to play in the second half.
Guardiola wants Kompany to feel mentally free now that the worst of the groin and calf problems – which have limited him to just 16 top-flight appearances since the start of 2015-16 seemingly b…
LA Galaxy have confirmed the signing of Landon Donovan, with the former United States international coming out of retirement to rejoin the MLS club.
Donovan retired at the end of the 2014 season having lifted his fourth MLS Cup with Galaxy, while he also had two loan spells in the Premier League with Everton.
The forward, who won 157 caps for United States during a 14-year-international career, is the all-time leading scorer in MLS history.
The 34-year-old rejoins Galaxy for the last few weeks of the season, with the team joint-second in the Western Conference and Donovan said he believes it is a win-win situation although he expects a mixed reaction.
He s back.
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy)
I am very happy to announce that I have decided…
Erik ten Hag expects his Manchester United players to show a stronger mentality and earn the right to wear the shirt after they crashed out of the Europa League with a whimper at Sevilla.
It was a horror show for the Red Devils in the second leg at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Thursday as they were consigned to a 3-0 second-leg defeat, losing the quarter-final 5-2 on aggregate.
United shot themselves in the foot, Harry Maguire robbed for the first goal after taking a pass from David de Gea to gift Youssef En-Nesyri an early opener.
En-Nesyri later capitalised on terrible mistake from De Gea to complete the scoring after more poor defending gave Loic Bade the opportunity to score Sevilla s second goal.
United were abysmal with so much at stake and boss Ten Hag…
Chelsea are still interested in signing Arsen Zakharyan from Dynamo Moscow, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The first links between the London Blues and the 19-year-old, who has four senior caps as a Russia international under his belt, appeared about a year ago. Since then, Chelsea were caught up in the storm caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which eventually led to a change of ownership at the club. Further more, Thomas Tuchel was sacked earlier this week and Graham Potter has come in from Brighton and Hove Albion to take the head coach role at Stamford Bridge instead. But the interest in Zakharyan remains.
Preferring a central attacking midfield role, the talented youngster is versatile enough to play either left or right too, depending on the need and the m…