David Beckham is Sir David Beckham now. The title might seem too formal for a footballer who has defined funk, style and coolness throughout his career.
His hairstyles at times made more headlines than his performances and his lifestyle alongside his singer wife, Victoria Adams, was befitting of a celebrity from show business.
However, Beckham has now been conferred with Knighthood months after his 50th birthday.
However, it still cannot be denied that Beckham had a lot of achievements on the football pitch, too. He played the game for close to two decades and won a number of accolades in his career.
David Beckham – A Big Club Player
Beckham was a product of Manchester United’s academy and a part of the famous “class of 92”. He then joined Real Madrid in 2003 and later played for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan as well.
Beckham won six Premier League and a UEFA Champions League title with Manchester United. He later won a La Liga title with Real Madrid as well.
He played in more than 700 matches in his club career (almost 400 of which came for Manchester United) and scored more than 120 goals, the lion’s share of which came off his famous right foot.
Beckham also earned 115 international caps for England in a career spanning more than a decade and scored 17 goals.
His Biggest Moments
He is probably best remembered for his goal from a direct free-kick against Greece in a World Cup qualifier that earned his country qualification for the 2002 World Cup.
However, not everything was rosy in his career. He was shown a red card against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, which contributed to his team’s exit through a penalty shootout.
He then became a national villain for a while, and redemption only came four years later when his penalty kick helped England beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup.
Then, there was the infamous shoe incident involving Sir Alex Ferguson, Beckham’s mentor and the then-Manchester United manager.
Ferguson was never too happy with Beckham tinkering with his hairstyle and all, and the latter’s celebrity lifestyle.
He kicked a football shoe after a match that went on to hit Beckham on his face. It was probably not a coincidence that the right-sided midfielder left for Real Madrid after a short while.
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One of Football’s Greats
Even at Real Madrid, his arrival coincided with the exit of Claude Makelele, a defensive midfielder hailed as the engine of the team.
Beckham took on a lot of defensive responsibilities in the midfield at Real Madrid, but once again his hairstyle managed to hog the limelight.
With a right foot that could easily be hailed as one of the best ones in the history of the game and with wonderful crossing abilities, Beckham had the legitimate claim as one of the best players in the world in his position.
However, coupled with his wife, his style statements kept making the headlines, something which he visibly enjoyed and cherished.
Along with his dead-ball abilities, Sir David Beckham will also be remembered as a footballer who transcended boundaries and made himself a global celebrity with his activities off the football field.
However, there is doubt about his being a better footballer than Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne, Paul Scholes or Wayne Rooney – all his contemporaries and Englishmen – none of whom has been given the Knighthood.
Beckham’s life off the pitch might have had something to do with the decision in his favour.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Gribaudi/ImagePhoto
Recording Date: 14.06.2025