After his recent Inter Miami relocation, Lionel Messi’s friendship with David Beckham is in its early beginnings, but the English soccer star is already drinking mate tea.

The traditional South American drink, manufactured from the Yerba mate plant, is high in antioxidants, reduces body fɑt, and contains the same amount of caffeine as coffee.

It is also thought to relieve fɑtigue and improve muscle contractions, which is important for athletes like Messi, who is frequently spotted drinking it.

Beckham’s name can now be added to the list. He posted a photo on Instagram of himself sipping the drink through a bombilla – a metal straw used to drink it – and remarked, ‘If it’s good enough for Leo’.

However, Messi appeared to disapprove of the brand Beckham was drinking. He posted a photo of Beckham on his Instagram story with the caption, ‘I’m going to make you drink some good mate.’

Messi has been spotted drinking it throughout his career, even arriving at games with the gourd from which it is sipped.

Messi could do a lot worse than introduce it to his Miami teammates, given the health benefits.

The 36-year-old World Cup winner couldn’t have wished for a better start to life in Miami on the soccer pitch.

He had three goals in his first two League Cup games, with Miami defeating Cruz Azul 2-1 and Atlanta 4-0.

It came after Beckham presided over a spectacular opening ceremony to officially introduce Messi as a Miami player in front of 20,000 supporters at the team’s DRV PNK stadium.

‘Please excuse me for being a little emotional tonight. Welcoming Lionel Messi to Inter Miami is a dream come true.