Name: DeSantis Praises David Beckham and Lionel Messi, Credits Them for the 'Real Football' Explosion in Miami · The Floridian
Uploaded: 2025-12-05T16:28:36+00:00
Duration: 1 min 48 s
Description: Tallahassee—Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is your typical sports dude who loves to watch baseball and American football, especially at the collegiate level, but does he like watching the "Real Futbol," or as most Neanderthal Americans call it, Soccer?

Tallahassee—Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is your typical sports dude who loves to watch baseball and American football, especially at the collegiate level, but does he like watching the "Real Futbol," or as most Neanderthal Americans call it, Soccer?

Gov. DeSantis, especially his little son Mason, likes to talk football, with Mason apparently delving into a little trash-talking against any team playing against his beloved FSU Seminoles.

During my sit-down interview with "America's Governor," we asked the former collegiate baseball player (Yale) about the "Real Football" that has taken Florida by storm after former England Captain David Beckham and the Mas brothers brought their Major League Soccer (MLS) InterMiamiFC to the Miami boogie down.

In talking to DeSantis, we got the idea that he wasn't much of a dribbler, let alone able to juggle a soccer ball with his feet. DeSantis did acknowledge the massive accomplishment of the Mas brothers and Beckham, and the footprint that Argentine soccer great Lionel Messi has left in South Florida.

There is a pretty good chance that DeSantis' Español is not so great either. That's ok, but you would think with all the trips he has made to Miami-Dade County over the years, he would have at least picked up a little Spanglish, right?

DeSantis praised Beckham and Messi for their contribution to growing the sport in Florida.

David Beckham, Lionel Messi, the Mas brothers (Courtesy of InterMiamiFC)

The Floridian: Speaking of passion. So we're talking American football. I want to talk about the real football. You know, we have the World Cup coming in next year. You know, you have David Beckham, a former English soccer player, huge flash in Miami with his new intro Miami. He teamed up with the Moss brothers. Big deal. They brought in Lionel Messi, one of the biggest, greatest soccer players in the history of the sport. How do you feel about the success of the team Inter Miami FC, and how the team's ownership has helped broaden football's appeal in South Florida?

No, they've got great owners. They're doing a great job. I actually drove by the new facility the other day. And so there's construction underway. I mean, I think the model of having the shops and the restaurants in a hotel, kind of like Atlanta has for their baseball team at the battery, I think that's a winning formula. You know, especially in Miami, there's a lot to do, right? And so what you want to do is be able to attract people just to have a good time, who may not be soccer fans, just like the Braves, they get people who may not be baseball fans to be able to do it. I would tell you, you know, look, I grew up, baseball was number one, football, you know. Now I follow baseball, football, golf and stuff and so. So I was not a soccer even though I did play it as a kid. But worldwide, I mean, the popularity is unbelievable, and in South Florida, it's a big, big market for that. So they've done really well. You know, Beckham has had a lot to do with it, but, but definitely Messi. I mean, like the people that like soccer, you know, they're just ..."

The Floridian: It's the real-world sport, American football. Come on, you wear a helmet. You crash into each other, your crash test dummies.

In defense of his beloved American football, DeSantis pointed out how he sport has grown around the world, pointing to the recent Miami Dolphins game played in Madrid, Spain.

"But it's getting very popular in Europe. You know, they do the London game. They did the dolphins did Madrid. I think they may even do one in Germany. I think they've announced they're gonna try to go into the Middle East and do something. So I do think you're going to see more and more of that," added DeSantis.

For those of you out there living under a rock, the real football (Soccer), with all it's Neymar-style flops, and Micah Richards dives, is part of every day life for billions of people around the world.

There is no comparison. You have your basic and boring, "Touchdown!" And then you have your heart-stopping, stroke-enducing "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!"

By the way, let me just remind you that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played in North America, and Miami will host several games.

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