Explained: How Lionel Messi almost prevented David Beckham driving home after storybook Inter Miami debut

Lionel Messi left David Beckham in tears and almost unable to drive home after his match-winning debut for Inter Miami this year.

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• Messi scored free-kick on his debut
• Argentine fired Inter Miami to 2-1 win
• His goal left co-owner Beckham stunned

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Messi scored a direct free kick to fire his team to a 2-1 win against Mexican side Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup in his first game since joining on a free transfer in July. Inter Miami's first taste of Messi's greatness left co-owner Beckham amazed.

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  WHAT BECKHAM SAID

  Beckham told : “I remember getting in the car on the way back, and I said to Victoria, ‘I’m not even sure I can drive home’. You couldn’t have written it better. It was for MLS, and for America. It was for the future of the game."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi went on to score nine more goals as Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup, their first ever trophy. Unfortunately for the Florida club, the World Cup winner was unable to fire them to the MLS playoffs, as he scored just one goal in six matches in the American division.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

  The 36-year-old and his Inter-Miami team-mates is preparing for the new MLS season, which is expected to kick off in late-February 2024. Even though he's not in action, he's still been picking up awards, with TIME naming him their Athlete of Year recently.