Who's better for MLS: LA Galaxy's Beckham or Inter Miami's Messi?

One is a former LA Galaxy star and two-time MLS champion and the other has him as his boss. Both David Beckham and Lionel Messi sent shockwaves when they joined the league and agreed to play soccer stateside.

The Los Angeles Galaxy missed the playoffs for the first time in 2006. They won the title in 2005 and also in 2002. The front office was aggressive in improving the product on the field.

Enter David Beckham. He was partnered along the captain Landon Donovan to be on the league's best dynamic duos. While the desired results were not immediate, after two more seasons of missing the playoffs, the LA Galaxy returned to their sixth MLS Cup Finals.

In 2009, Beckham, Donovan and Company lost to Real Salt Lake. However, for three straight seasons (2009-2011), the LA Galaxy were the top seed in the MLS Western Conference.

The return on signing David Beckham is finally received.

In 2011, the Los Angeles Galaxy made their seventh MLS Cup Finals. Unlike 2009, Beckham and his teammates won the title. The same opponent, the Houston Dynamo, and the same result came about the next year in the finals.

The LA Galaxy became the third team to win back-to-back MLS Cup championships. Houston was the second and D.C. United did it first in 1996 and 1997, when the league first began.

The England native scored 18 goals and recorded 40 assists as a member of the LA Galaxy. Beckham's arrival and success story paved the way for other talented players to join the league overseas.

For instance, even after Messi's arrival to MLS, international talent like Marco Reus have signed to play here. The former Borussia Dortmund star has even been named Player of the Month three times this season.

Reus became an MLS champion in his first season. That's something that neither Beckham or Messi accomplished.

Welcome, Lionel Messi to the building.

According to a New York Times article by Paul Tenorio from July 9, 2023, "It was July 2007 and Beckham’s signing was heralded as a transformational moment for the league, his contract trumpeted as a record-setting five-year, $250 million deal. That nine-figure number was inflated to include potential earnings from endorsements on top of the $32.5 million in salary Beckham would earn, but it also somehow underplayed the real value."

Two years ago, it was reported that Lionel Messi would be joining MLS. His new home and team would be Inter Miami, partially owned by Beckham, himself.

"It’s ironic that Messi is coming to David’s team. It was ultimately the guy who created the opportunity that now exploits the opportunity."

Tim Leiweke, former executive

On Saturday, Beckham's former team plays his current team at Chase Stadium. The LA Galaxy become the guests of Inter Miami in a crucial game for the defending MLS Cup champions.

In the last decade, the LA Galaxy have missed the playoffs five times. That is something theyare on par to do again this season. During Beckham's six seasons in MLS, the Galaxy failed to qualify for the postseason just in his first two seasons. They did appear in three championship games, winning the later two.

Beckham looks to add another MLS Cup to his resume, this time as an owner. He'll have to rely on Messi and his teammates if he wants that to happen. The LA Galaxy are the next soccer club that stands in their way.