With Messi and Nu Stadium, Inter Miami dream coming true for David Beckham
MIAMI — David Beckham started his journey to bring a Major League Soccer team to Miami at least 13 years ago. And it’s been nearly 30 years since the Miami Fusion set up shop in Fort Lauderdale, like Inter Miami has for the past six seasons.
On Saturday, an MLS club finally played a league match in Miami.
It might have been a draw, but there was still reason to celebrate.
Argentine World Cup champion Lionel Messi score his team's first goal in the new stadium, and Uruguayan great Luis Suarez scored the equalizer for Inter Miami, which settled for a 2-2 draw against Austin FC at Nu Stadium on Saturday, April 4.
Austin FC’s Guilherme Biro scored the stadium’s first goal, while Jayden Nelson added a goal to push Inter Miami on the brink in the inaugural match.
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas stood alongside Beckham and brother Jose Mas atop the stadium steps to cut a celebratory pink ribbon before the match.
Beckham and Mas addressed fans before the game, commemorating the dream they both shared to reach the moment.
“When I came to America and the MLS 20 years ago, my dream was to win championships, help raise the game of soccer that I love so much and to build my own team,” Beckham said.
“Thirteen years ago, I announced Miami was my choice. We had no name. We had no fans. We had no stadium. Today, I stand in our new home. We are champions of the MLS. We have the best player in the history of the game playing in Miami. Dreams really can come true.”
MLS commissioner Don Garber believes the stadium is the latest sign of growth for the league before the World Cup.
Still, there’s plenty of venue improvement ongoing, with construction outside the stadium to be completed in the coming weeks.
When asked if Inter Miami should have delayed or postponed its match so the stadium could be further completed, Garber said, “It went down to the wire, but they were confident that they were going to get that over the finish line.”
“It's still got some work to be done,” Garber said. “Frankly, I was here a month ago or so, and what's happened in the last 30 days, where they are today is just remarkable. It's way further along than I expected it to be. I've learned a lesson that when people tell you things are to get done, sometimes you just got to trust them.”
Garber also praised Beckham and Mas for their work in Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park.
“It's absolutely spectacular,” Garber said. “It feels to me like a building that could rival any sports facility anywhere in the world. Not just soccer stadiums, but any sports building.”
If Beckham’s celebrity helped MLS rise, Messi’s arrival sent Inter Miami and MLS to new heights with global recognition.
And Garber believes the best is still yet to come.
“I think our best days are still ahead,” Garber said. “David shined a light on our league, and Leo’s taking that torch, and he’s showing it around. And we’re getting calls from players around the world.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: David Beckham gets dream stadium, Messi scores in Inter Miami draw
