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Lionel Messi hugs David Beckham and wife Victoria after thrilling shootout win over Nashville
Beckham was overwhelmed with joy after the penalty shootout win
This is Inter Miami’s first cup win in the franchise’s five-year history.
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Lionel Messi celebrated his first cup win with Inter Miami by kissing co-owner David Beckham and his wife Victoria on Saturday night in Nashville.
After a fight on the pitch with his Miami teammates, Messi found himself in the arms of an ecstatic Beckham, who could barely contain his joy.
Beckham, a former MLS star himself, was seen whispering in Messi’s ear before the Argentina legend shared a brief hug with Victoria. Beckham and his wife also shared their own embrace on the pitch, following five difficult seasons in Miami as the club struggled to emerge from the MLS basement.
Messi was, once again, the man of the match on Saturday. Not only did he score early in regulation, but he also converted the opening shot into a penalty shootout as Inter Miami beat Nashville SC 10-9 on penalties in the League Cup Final.
Messi scored for the 10th time in seven games since joining Inter Miami, converting in the 23rd minute.
Messi celebrated his first cup win with Miami by kissing team co-owner David Beckham
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham is hugged by his wife Victoria in Nashville on Saturday
Co-owners Jorge Mas, David Beckham and Jose Mas celebrate after Inter Miami win
The ball landed at Messi’s feet after a pass from teammate Robert Taylor was blocked. Messi dribbled past Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman and fired a bending shot from just outside the penalty area into the top left corner of the goal. Diving keeper Elliot Panicco had no chance to play the ball.
Messi wasn’t particularly influential before scoring the goal, and the crowd booed him every time he touched the ball. But the stadium erupted with joy when the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner who led Argentina to the World Cup crown last year scored.
Nashville tied the game in the 56th minute when Fafa Picault’s header from a corner kick ricocheted off Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi and into the net of goaltender Drake Callendar.
Messi fired a shot from the area where he had scored earlier in the 71st minute but hit the post as the teams played to a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Lionel Messi is hoisted into the air by his Inter Miami teammates after winning the League Cup
Inter Miami co-owners Jorge Mas, David Beckham and Jose Mas pose with the trophy
Miami forward Leonardo Campana had a chance to win the game in the last regulation game, but his shot slipped on an open goal and hit the post. Messi held his head in his hands as the ball went out of play.
Messi calmly converted the opening shot on penalties as Miami claimed their first trophy.
Messi mania had gripped Music City after Nashville SC advanced to the final against Miami FC with a victory over Monterrey of the Mexican league on Tuesday. Ticket prices skyrocketed after they went on sale the following day, but fell somewhat in the days leading up to the match. The cheapest seats still cost several hundred dollars. A crowd of 30,109 filled Geodis Park.
Nashville native Reese Witherspoon kicked the ball out and NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo shot on goal before the game. Both are minority owners of Nashville SC.