{
  "id": 4846708,
  "title": "Messi’s legacy will ‘live forever’, says Beckham",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/messis-legacy-will-live-forever-says-beckham-4846708",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T10:40:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/01/messi-s-legacy-will-live-forever-says-beckham"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "David Beckham has paid tribute to Lionel Messi, declaring that the Argentinian legend's legacy \"will live forever\" after the football icon announced his retirement from international football.\n\nMessi announced on Monday that he had ended his remarkable career with Argentina, having earned 207 caps and scored 125 goals for his country. The 39-year-old had led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with his final appearance for his nation being their World Cup final defeat against Spain in July.\n\nBeckham, a former England captain and co-owner of Messi's current team Inter Miami, expressed his admiration for the football prodigy in an Instagram post on Tuesday. He wrote, \"Leo, you have been a credit to yourself, your family, your friends and your country.\" Beckham praised Messi for setting an example and inspiring millions of children, not just in Argentina, but worldwide.\n\nThe former England captain concluded his message by congratulating Messi on all his achievements for Argentina, saying, \"Leo, you delivered the greatest gift to your country and, for that, your legacy will live forever. Congratulations on all you achieved for Argentina.\"",
  "summary": "The football great on Monday revealed he had called time on his remarkable career with Argentina after 207 caps and 125 goals.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Messi legacy will ‘live forever’, says Beckham",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/messi-legacy-will-live-forever-says-beckham",
        "published": "2026-09-01T10:32:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Messi’s legacy will ‘live forever’, says Beckham",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/messis-legacy-will-live-forever-says-beckham",
        "published": "2026-09-01T10:40:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Why Messi’s legacy extends beyond the game itself",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/why-messis-legacy-extends-beyond-the-game-itself",
        "published": "2026-09-01T10:43:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Messi legacy will live forever, says Beckham",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/messi-legacy-will-live-forever-says-beckham-4843642",
        "published": "2026-09-01T11:06:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}