David Beckham hugs Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela and father Jorge in their suite ahead of Inter Miami’s highly-anticipated MLS season opener against Real Salt Lake

Inter Miami co-owner and president David Beckham greeted Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo and father Jorge before the season opener against Real Salt Lake.

On Wednesday, Beckham was seen hugging Roccuzzo and Jorge at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Messi’s sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro were also in the suite before Messi embarked on his first full season in Major League Soccer.

The 36-year-old surprised the sports world in July 2023 when he signed with Beckham’s team in the United States. Messi’s groundbreaking signing came months after leading Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar and a disappointing spell with the Paris Saint Germain club.

Upon his arrival, Messi led The Herons to win the inaugural League Cup. They also appeared in the final of the US Open Cup, but lost to the Houston Dynamo.

Messi has scored 11 goals and four assists in his 14 games for the club. However, due to his late addition, Inter Miami was unable to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Messi’s team comes into Wednesday’s game after a dull preseason tour.

Inter Miami won one of its seven preseason games, which raised many doubts among fans. After going goalless against the El Salvador national team and FC Dallas, their streak extended to three games with consecutive losses in Saudi Arabia.

Messi and company first suffered a 4-3 defeat to Al Hilal before a 6-0 drubbing against Al Nasr and Messi missed much of the match.

To finish their preseason, Inter Miami won, lost and drew against Hong Kong League XI, Vissel Kobe and Newell’s Old Boys.

They will host a team in Real Salt Lake that has not lost a season opener in 15 years. The Utah-based club finished fifth in the Western Conference last season before losing to the Dynamo in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.