Messi in the MLS

David Beckham

The MLS is a lot of fun, but it is ALSO where the really talented footballers go to die, metaphorically, or where they start and then leave if they're good enough to get paid. It's a huge deal to get Messi fresh off his World Cup, though, and I hope it sends soccer's popularity through the roof. He's definitely still more exciting to watch than David was when he came to L.A. Sorry, Becks. You're still very handsome.

Becks and Posh and Harper Seven

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg/Shutterstock (14017274am) David Beckham, Victoria and Harper Seven during the Club de Futbol Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami CF, at DRV PNK Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Club de Futbol Cruz Azul v Inter Miami CF, Leagues Cup football match, DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, USA, USA - 21 Jul 2023

The highlight of this night was not Posh getting to sit in great seats with her daughter (who looks great!) while her family's investment paid dividends; no, it was being potentially VERY exuberantly smashed with David and singing "Wannabe" at karaoke.

Cruz Beckham

The kids are grown!

Lebron James

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg/Shutterstock (14017274ba) during the Club de Futbol Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami CF, at DRV PNK Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Club de Futbol Cruz Azul v Inter Miami CF, Leagues Cup football match, DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, USA, USA - 21 Jul 2023

Tsk tsk, Becks, do you not serve your celebrity friends out of CRYSTAL in your luxury box???

Becky G

Those shoes seem treacherous -- someone get her a flashy pair of custom Air Jordans for this gig?!? -- but the rest is good, and for a hot second I thought that was a Diet Coke microphone. Sigh.

Kim Kardashian

I WAS a little surprised to see Kim there, as I don't think of her as anyone who cares about sportsball. You can also really see all the makeup from up close. I don't know if that lip color is for her.

Marc Anthony

Is Marc talking to ... Fisher Stevens? I wonder if he's a huge soccer fan, or if the Inter Miami people are huge Succession fans. Both, probably.

Serena and Alexis

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg/Shutterstock (14017274r) Marc Anthony and Serena Williams attendsthe Club de Futbol Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami CF, at DRV PNK Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Club de Futbol Cruz Azul v Inter Miami CF, Leagues Cup football match, DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, USA, USA - 21 Jul 2023

I like to think Serena is ALSO intently trying to sort out whether that's Fisher Stevens.

Kim and Serena

Mandatory Credit: Photo by CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (14018111ah) American media personality Kim Kardashian (C) poses for a photo next to American tennis player Serena Williams (R) before the Soccer Leagues Cup match between Cruz Azul and Inter Miami CF outside DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, 21 July 2023. Soccer Leagues Cup - Cruz Azul vs Inter Miami CF, Fort Lauderdale, USA - 21 Jul 2023

Serena's little crop top is cute. I didn't know she and Kim even really knew each other, but I Googled it and I gather Kim was at Serena's wedding. This friendship, whatever it is, kind of intrigues me.

Lionel Messi

I really like their logo. It reminds me of Placido Flamingo, the inflatable bird that lived on my dad's office balcony when we were in Miami. It had standing water on it and the building ignored their requests to fix it, so my dad put Placido out there, and then one day he showed up to work and the water was still there but Placido was DEAD. He'd been stabbed by a screwdriver.

Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi tries to get past Cruz Azul's Mexican defender Carlos Salcedo (L) and Colombian midfielder Kevin Castano (R) during the Leagues Cup Group J football match between Inter Miami CF and Cruz Azul at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 21, 2023. (Photo by Chandan KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

He's Barbie. They're just Ken.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JULY 21: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates the game winning goal after defeating Cruz Azul during the Leagues Cup 2023 match between Cruz Azul and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Seriously, though, WHAT a debut. Miami, and Apple TV+ -- which offered the game only on their MLS subscription -- had a very, very good night. I would imagine a lot of folks considered ponying up for the rest of the season.