Utah 5-year-old with Down syndrome walks Messi on the field, scores goals with Beckham

SYRACUSE — Two of the world's biggest soccer players got the chance to spend time with a 5-year-old from Utah at the Inter Miami game on Wednesday.

Hudson Droubay, who goes by "Huddy," was born with Down syndrome. A little over a year ago, his mom, Melanie Droubay, posted a video of her son playing soccer.

That video went viral with millions of views, and soccer superstar David Beckham took notice.

"I posted a video of Hudson playing soccer just on our city league team," Melanie Droubay told KSL. "He has two older brothers that play soccer and finally it was his turn to play. The video got a couple million views because it was just him smiling the whole time. I don't even know if he kicked the ball; he was just so happy to be on the field.

"When we posted it, David Beckham ended up commenting on it, and saying something like, it was the 'sweetest smile he's seen on the soccer pitch.' So, that was kind of the start of it all."

That first post and connection with Beckham spurred a relationship with Huddy and his family, that Melanie Droubay said led to the meeting earlier this week.

"A few months later, (Beckham) actually sent Hudson a couple of signed jerseys that had Huddy's name on it, and then earlier this summer, we got a surprise package that had a letter from David Beckham inviting our family out to an Inter Miami game."

At the game, Huddy and Beckham wore matching Inter Miami jerseys, with Beckham's jersey reading "Mr. David" on the back. Melanie Droubay said that there is a reason for that, and it came from Huddy himself.

"The 'Mr. David' part started when Huddy sang 'Happy Birthday' to David Beckham and sang 'Happy birthday, Mr. David,'" Melanie Droubay explained. "It's an affectionate nickname from Huddy."

The two signed each other's jerseys and went out on the field to score a few goals, Melanie Droubay said. Huddy was also able to sit in famed international soccer player Lionel Messi's locker.

The surprises kept coming for the Syracuse kindergartener, and soon, he learned that he would be walking with Messi on the field.

"We didn't know that he was going to walk out with Messi," Melanie Droubay explained. "We didn't know any of that going into it; we just knew we were going to meet David Beckham and watch a game. (Beckham) went out of his way and orchestrated everything because I think he genuinely just wanted Huddy to have the best experience."

Melanie Droubay started sharing her journey as a parent of a child with Down syndrome when Huddy was first born as a way to share with friends and family. She said she had no idea that it would grow to where it has today, adding that moments like these "mean everything" to her.

"I want Huddy to grow up knowing that he belongs everywhere, that he's capable of amazing things, and that having Down syndrome doesn't limit the joy and opportunities he deserves in life," she said. "Watching these incredible athletes treat him with so much kindness and respect meant the world."

Huddy is the youngest of five children with three older brothers and one older sister. Melanie Droubay said that they "all adore him."

"He's pretty much the star of the show, and we're all OK with that," she said. "He's living his best life, and we're just here watching and loving it."

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