Gareth Bale equals David Beckham’s record with 116th Liga appearance

The two Madrid favourites have made an identical number of appearances in the Spanish top flight, although Bale holds the edge in their head-to-head

Gareth Bale has equalled a record previously held by David Beckham after appearing in his 116th La Liga game.

The Wales international, 28, started for Real Madrid against Espanyol in Tuesday’s clash.

And in doing so, he reached a mark that only Beckham had previously managed.

Bale now shares the record for the most Liga appearances made by a British player, which Beckham had previously set while also playing for Madrid in 2007.

The former Tottenham man moved to Madrid in 2013 in a world-record transfer, and in his first season scored in the Champions League final as the Merengues lifted the much sought-after Decima.

In total he has scored 61 goals in a Madrid shirt, compared to Beckham’s 13.

Bale also boasts a far more impressive win ratio than the ex-Manchester United idol, having finished on the winning side 79 times, 13 more than Beckham.

Source: www.goal.com

MESSI INVITES CALL FROM BECKHAM’S NEW MIAMI MLS FRANCHISE

The Barcelona superstar is not planning to depart Camp Nou any time soon but has opened himself up to a possible move to the U.S. at some stage

Lionel Messi has invited a call from David Beckham’s new Miami MLS franchise, but plans to remain at Barcelona for “a few years” yet.

Manchester United and Real Madrid legend Beckham announced Monday that his new expansion team is finally ready to be launched.

The plan is for his franchise to make its Major League Soccer bow in 2020, with a soccer-specific stadium scheduled to be opened the following year.

Beckham has expressed a desire to bring star names to Miami, with a number of “top players” having already contacted him regarding a possible switch.

Messi could join the project at some stage, with the mercurial Argentine among those to have congratulated the team behind a Florida-based venture.

In a message posted on social media, the 30-year-old forward said: “First of all congratulations.

“I wanted to wish you all the best in this new project, this new role for you.

“Who knows, maybe in a few years you can give me a ring.”

Any deal for Messi remains some way off for now, with his current contract at Barcelona set to keep him at Camp Nou until at least 2021.

That agreement includes a £626 million release clause, with those in Catalunya eager to ensure that a prized asset does not head the same way as Neymar did in the summer of 2017 – when Paris Saint-Germain stumped up €222m to secure his signature.

Beckham, though, is likely to remain an interested observer of Messi’s situation.

He could end up forming part of a star-studded regime in Miami further down the line, with Hollywood actor Will Smith having already offered his assistance behind the scenes and eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt suggesting that he could fill a striking berth on the field

[Source: www.goal.com]