Which player made David Beckham realise he had to retire?

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :December 25, 2024 at 5:57 PM

Modified at :December 25, 2024 at 5:57 PM

Both stars have faced each other in the Champions League.

Argentina and Barcelona icon Lionel Messi sent a legendary player of Manchester United, David Beckham, into retirement when both faced in the UEFA Champions League.

In the 2012–13 Champions League quarterfinals, PSG played Barcelona and drew 2-2 in the first leg at the Parc des Princes.

Due to the away goal criteria, Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals after rallying in the return leg to earn a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou.

Beckham said that his match against Messi made him decide it was time to quit. Beckham participated in both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal matches.

“I probably decided to retire when Messi was running past me,” he previously told Sky Sports, as per Marca in 2023. “[Messi] came on and Barcelona scored. Despite my age, I enjoyed playing and the team was good in both games. We did things to be proud of. We didn’t lose to them.”

Among players like Diego Maradona, Pele, and Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is considered by many to be among the greatest of all time.

🗣️ Beckham: "There's Kylian, Neymar, all of these top players. And then of course, Leo Messi, without a doubt one of the best players in the history of the sport."#UCL pic.twitter.com/BcGkNaSb1z
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 15, 2022

Before making his debut in the first squad under Frank Rijkaard, the 37-year-old Argentine forward gained notoriety in Barcelona’s renowned La Masia program.

Messi made history while he was at Camp Nou, and the Argentina captain was a key contributor to Barcelona’s accomplishments.

The Inter Miami great won seven Copa del Reys, four Champions League trophies, and an incredible ten LaLiga crowns when he was a member of the Spanish team.

Messi, who currently holds the highest scorer record for Barcelona, made an amazing 778 appearances for the LaLiga team and scored an astonishing 672 goals for the first team.

After the Barcelona legend’s tenure at Camp Nou ended in 2021, Messi signed a free move to Paris Saint-Germain, a team in Ligue 1.

Prior to becoming a free agent in 2023 and joining his current team, Inter Miami, Lionel Messi won back-to-back Ligue 1 championships with PSG.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been a vital member of Inter Miami, which is co-owned and presided over by Manchester United great David Beckham. Yes, the one who decided quit after facing Messi, what a coincidence!

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.