David Beckham told about Lionel Messi's happiness at Inter Miami as bold claim made

David Beckham has been told that is happier at than he ever was at .

In what will be music to the former international's ears, Mario Kempes claims the World Cup Winner is enjoying life in Florida as he "plays when he wants to". Messi made the switch to the in July 2023 and has been a lynchpin in altering the fortunes of the club.

The -owned side won the Supporters' Shield this season and amassed a record breaking 74 points in the Eastern Conference. Despite their stunning season, Miami after they were beaten by Atlanta United, nevertheless, Kempes is of the opinion that the footballing icon is elated with his choice to move stateside.

“Messi is three times happier playing in Inter Miami than at Barcelona, he is doing things very well," Kempes told , "It’s not about coming in and having to be focused for the whole ninety minutes. He plays when he wants to.”

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Kempes is not the only former playing icon to maintain that Messi has made the right move in the latter stages of his career. His former team-mate and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta also insisted Messi has found a project that excites him.

“I would say he has found an environment where he feels comfortable, where he feels at ease," Iniesta said to . “He is in a project that excites him, a project with an ambition to grow and he is surrounded by great players.

"I would say that what is reflected on the field is the happiness with which he is living that project, until the day he decides to stop.”

Regardless of Messi's contentment in the US, he will have been brutally disappointed at Miami's season ending in such an anticlimactic fashion. Losing Game 3 of their opening-round series to Atlanta was even dubbed as the “biggest upset in MLS playoff history".

The MLS playoffs begin with a best-of-three series, followed by one-off knockout games in the later rounds. As Supporters' Shield winners, Miami had the advantage of playing two of their matches at home, but they were unable to capitalise.

Miami entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed after blitzing the regular standings. However it was an Atlanta side that finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, a whole 34 points behind Miami, that brought Messi's dream of the MLS Cup to a swift end.

It started so well with the Herons defeating Atlanta 2-1 in the first game at home. However they then fell short in Game 2, going down 2-1 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which then forced a decisive third game, where their ambitions came to a halt.

The loss extended Miami's struggles in the MLS postseason, with 's team still never progressing beyond the first round. Following the loss, Miami's manager Tata Martino has ignited worry amongst Miami fans after he suggested that Messi may not spend too much longer in the United States.

Messi has hinted he would in the near future. However, Martino confessed that he is in the dark when it comes to his compariot's next move.

"I actually don't know how limited [Messi's time in this league] is," Martino said after the Atlanta defeat (via ). "There is a question of time passing, but I would not dare to say that it is so short."

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