Zinedine Zidane Links up With Lionel Messi Despite Missing US Open Cup Final

• David Beckham did his former teammate Zinedine Zidane a huge favour by allowing him to meet Messi
• Zidane was in Fort Lauderdale to watch the US Open Cup final
• Messi was unfortunately not available as he sat out the game through injury

Zinedine Zidane’s trip to the United States was made worthwhile by his friend and former teammate David Beckham, who orchestrated a meeting between the Frenchman and Lionel Messi.

Messi was unavailable for the US Open Cup final on Wednesday, September 27, as Inter Miami took on Houston Dynamos, and could only watch from the bench as his side succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.

Owing to his injury, Messi didn’t even make the bench, and his absence was felt by Inter Miami players, who lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

The opponents from Texas went 2-0 up, and Inter Miami’s goal from Josef Martinez only proved to be a consolation as Messi helplessly watched from the bench alongside his wife Antonella Rocuzzo, as cited by The Mirror.

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Zidane links with Beckham, Messi

After the game, Zidane rolled back the years as he enjoyed a light moment with Beckham, a person whom he shared the dressing room with at Real Madrid from 2003 to 2006.

They shook hands before the game and had a brief conversation, and they reunited once again in the dressing room, this time in much calmer circumstances.

Images that have since been shared by Eurofoot show Zidane posing for an arm-in-arm photo with Beckham and Messi.

Despite Messi battling injury and being unable to feature for Inter Miami, it was still nice to see Zidane getting access to the Argentine through his former teammate.

Zidane is no stranger to Messi-ball, as the 1998 World Cup winner had the unenviable task of facing the Argentine in his prime in the El Clasico when he was manager at Real Madrid.

Messi’s possible return date

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Sports Brief also reported on Messi’s possible return date after missing the US Open Cup final.

Messi limped off in the first half of the 4-0 win over Toronto and missed the Florida derby trip to Orlando. He faced a late assessment to make the Cup final but was not cleared to compete.

Miami's next game is a home fixture against New York City on Sunday, and it is expected that Messi will get minutes from the bench. He has yet to lose a game in which he has played for the team.