It was a sensational reunion for David Beckham and Zi Zou at the US Open final. Since their glorious Real Madrid days, both legends have continued to reach great heights. David partly owns Inter Miami, while Zidane, as the former head coach of Real Madrid, achieved a remarkable feat by leading the team to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018.
However, Lionel Messi could not feature in the match, to give Inter Miami a winning chance and a befitting reunion for both David and Beckham. That was the fourth match for club and country that the 36-year-old Leo would miss due to injury and fatigue.
Beckham and Zidane reunite for Inter’s US Open Cup final
David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane had the opportunity to play together for the Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid in the early 2000s. They were both crucial to Real Madrid’s excellence in those years. They were later reunited in the United States to watch the US Open Cup final in Miami. Their partnership on the pitch during their time at Real Madrid was highly acclaimed, and their reunion in Miami likely brought back memories of their time as teammates in one of the world’s most iconic football clubs.
It is rather sad that their reunion was soured by Inter Miami’s loss to Dynamo Houston in their US Open Cup final match. Inter Miami lost 2-1 as Lionel Messi could not make it to the lineups due to a scar tissue problem. However, it was not their first defeat without Lionel Messi on the pitch.
Inter Miami were already trailing in the 24th minute with Griffin Dorsey’s first goal for Houston Dynamo. About 9 minutes later, Amine Bassi converted a penalty, doubling their lead after a rough tackle from DeAndre Yedlin of Inter Miami.
The night in Miami turned out to be disappointing for David Beckham, who likely started the evening with a great sense of optimism and excitement after welcoming Zinedine Zidane to Miami for the US Open Cup final. However, the match’s outcome may not have met their expectations, resulting in a disappointing experience for Beckham.
Despite the loss in the US Open Cup final, Zinedine Zidane seemed to be enjoying his time in Miami. He was spotted engaging in conversations with Jorge Mas, one of the co-owners of Miami FC, alongside David Beckham. Despite the defeat, the opportunity to spend time in Miami and connect with fellow football enthusiasts likely provided a positive experience for Zidane.
Messi’s absence costs Inter Miami in clash with Houston Dynamo
The NBA and Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden was one of those cheering Houston Dynamo to victory as they claimed a much-needed victory against Inter Miami. Lionel Messi’s presence on the pitch with his team could have made the difference, but unfortunately, he was out with a minor injury.
Lionel Messi had been earlier subbed off in the 4-0 thriller against Toronto due to some injury concerns. Since then, Coach Tata had expressed that he was a doubt for the US Open Cup Final clash with Houston Dynamo. However, this was not the only time Inter Miami would lose without Lionel Messi; they earlier suffered a terrible defeat to Atlanta United following Messi’s absence.
Lionel Messi, who has played roughly 14 games for Inter Miami, is yet to suffer a defeat in any of his features. However, without him, Inter Miami has now lost two crucial matches.
Miami currently finds itself in 14th place out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference standings, with a five-point gap separating them from the ninth and final playoff position currently held by New York City FC.
Their next match is against New York City FC on Saturday night, and there are growing concerns about Lionel Messi’s availability for the game. Messi’s fitness and participation in the match will likely be closely monitored as Miami seeks to improve its position in the standings and make a push for the playoffs.
