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PICTURE SPECIAL: David Beckham made his LA Galaxy debut 16 years ago today (and now it's Lionel Messi's turn tonight!)

Lionel Messi is set to make his Inter Miami debut on Friday night - and July 21 also marks 16 years to the day since David Beckham made his own Stateside debut for LA Galaxy.

It is a nice coincidence that the first matches for two of football's biggest icons both came about on the same day in the seventh month - Beckham in a friendly against Chelsea, and Messi facing Cruz Azul in MLS Leagues Cup.

When Beckham went to LA in 2007, he paved the way for a new era of football in the United States.