David Beckham admits he is likely to be emotional when Lionel Messi makes his debut for Inter Miami.

Messi, 36, was unveiled at the DRV PNK Stadium in front of thousands of fans on Sunday night after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Major League Soccer team.

Co-owner Beckham is eager to see the Argentine World Cup winner take to the field for the Florida outfit and is likely to be overwhelmed by the moment.

He told ABC's Good Morning America: "I might actually cry when I see him walk on to the pitch.

"I've realised as I get older, I get more emotional. I look at my kids, I get emotional. I talk to my kids and my wife, I get emotional.

"So I think the moment I see Leo step out on to the pitch in front of our fans, in front of this nation, I'll be emotional for sure."

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Miami sit bottom of the Eastern Conference but Friday night's Leagues Cup home clash against Mexican side Cruz Azul offers Gerardo Martino's men an opportunity to kick-start their season — and potentially a chance to hand Messi his first appearance.

The ex-Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward trained on Tuesday, although Beckham does not want to rush his marquee recruit into the starting XI.

The former England captain told ESPN: "We don't know if Leo will start the game or whether he'll come on, because I think at the end of the day, he needs to be ready.

"We need to protect him and make sure that he's ready because he's had a vacation.

"He's now been in Miami for a week and he's been training really hard and he looks great. 

"So I think Leo and Tata [Martino] will decide when he plays and when he comes on, but the atmosphere here will be incredible, and hopefully we get a win."