Legendary Footballer, Franz Beckenbauer, Passes Away, Leaving Football Community in Mourning
On January 9, 2024, the football world was shaken by the news of Franz Beckenbauer’s passing. The German football legend, known for marking his own era and winning two Ballon d’Ors, left an indelible mark on the sport. As news of his death spread, footballers and fans alike dressed in mourning to say goodbye to one of the greats of the game.
Lionel Messi, a player widely recognized as one of the greatest of his generation, also paid tribute to Beckenbauer. The Argentinian forward pointed out that the defender who surprised him the most in his career was Beckenbauer, describing him as “very fast and big” while also acknowledging his agility.
Messi took to social media to bid farewell to Beckenbauer, posting a photo of the German playing for the national team with the message “RIP”. This tribute quickly went viral, leading to a surprising response from Bayern Munich, the club with which Beckenbauer was closely associated.
In a rare move, Bayern Munich decided to reciprocate Messi’s gesture by following the Argentine star on Instagram, the platform where he had posted his tribute to Beckenbauer. This unexpected action drew attention given Bayern’s traditional adherence to their motto “Mia san mia” (“We are us”) and their historical norm of not following footballers from other clubs. This was the first time that Bayern had officially followed a player from another club since creating their official Instagram account.
Despite Bayern’s unexpected display of admiration for Messi, the footballer has not responded to the club’s follow-up request. However, it is worth noting that both Messi and Bayern Munich are sponsored by Adidas, suggesting a preexisting connection between the two parties.
Meanwhile, in other news related to Messi, the shirt he will wear for the 2024 MLS season with Inter Miami was leaked, giving fans a preview of the football star’s new look on the pitch. Stay tuned for further updates.