At one point the world wanted to bend it like Beckham. Will it now want to drink mate like Messi?
Earlier today, David Beckham posted a photograph of himself drinking mate and tagging Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi with the caption, “If it’s good enough for Leo 🫖”
Messi reposted his new boss’s post and responded “Yo te voy hacer tomar unos buenos mates 😂” (I’m going to make you some good mates),
Mate is a very popular drink in South America, especially in Argentina. Per a New York Times article about the popularity of the drink amongst South American teams in the Qatar World Cup, the Argentinian National Team brought 1,110 pounds of mate for its staff and players to have for the duration of the World Cup.
A Google search of “Messi mate” provides plenty of photos of the international star enjoying mate at home, in the locker room, on the team plane, and even in a stadium suite.
Austin FC midfielder Sebastián Driussi told the New York Times, “I don’t know, but it’s like water for us. Before a game, in the locker room, everyone is drinking it all the time. There is no schedule or bad time to have mate. Us in Argentina, we say that mate makes friendships.”
Messi should have no issues making friends following his first two matches with Inter Miami CF. In his first appearances during the Leagues Cup 2023 opener, he scored the game-winning goal on a free kick in stoppage time.
In his second appearance, and first start, for the club, Messi notched a brace and an assist in the club’s 4-0 win over Atlanta United.
**Josef Martinez** has already talked about how the club will need to learn from Messi on the pitch. Off the pitch, Beckham is already learning something new.
