The World Cup is on the horizon and we hope to see a Manchester United player seize the moment and put their name in lights.
One player who had an uncanny habit of doing exactly this was David Beckham, one of the club’s greatest ever academy graduates, who still does not get the credit he deserves.
Let’s walk down memory lane and look at David Beckham’s many impactful moments at the World Cup.
Free-kick vs Colombia (1998)
What a moment! After seeing teammate Paul Scholes score in England’s opening game against Tunisia, David Beckham stole the show in the final group game against Colombia.
Already known for his immaculate set pieces, Beckham seized his moment on the big stage by bending in a trademark free-kick.
The goal gave England a 2-0 win and helped raise Beckham’s profile in the process. It seemed like the sky was the limit.
Red card vs Argentina (1998)
David Beckham came crashing back down to earth early in the second half of England’s last 16 game against Argentina.
He petulantly flicked his heel at Diego Simeone’s calf, and the Argentine midfielder dropped to the floor like he had been poleaxed.
Beckham was shown a straight red card and England were eliminated on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Between the media backlash and manager Glenn Hoddle hitting out at Beckham, the Manchester United midfielder became public enemy number one across the nation.
This led to United fans rallying around Beckham, who ended the following club season as a Treble winner, knocking Simeone’s Inter out of the Champions League along the way.
Free-kick vs Greece to qualify (2001)
OK, so this was not at the World Cup, but it was absolutely iconic and England may not have made it there without him.
2-1 down at home to Greece in a World Cup qualifier at Old Trafford of all places, England were heading towards a play-off against Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine.
Beckham was the one England player on the pitch who had played well, and when the Three Lions won a free-kick on the edge of the box in stoppage time there was no question over who would take it.
The captain curled in one of his best ever free-kicks like a missile into the top corner, sealing qualification in dramatic circumstances.
It was the first step of Beckham’s redemption story with England fans. Suddenly all was forgiven.
Penalty winner vs Argentina (2002)
David Beckham almost did not make the World Cup after suffering a broken metatarsal playing for Manchester United against Deportivo.
Of course, he was injured by an Argentine. Remember the name Aldo Duscher?
There was no stopping Beckham however, and he made sure to be available to start each and every game at the 2002 World Cup.
He was clearly not fully fit, but he was never going to miss the showdown with Argentina in the group stages, where he took on clubmate Juan Veron, and old enemy Diego Simeone.
Fittingly, Beckham scored the winning penalty, lashing a low strike down the middle, celebrating like Stuart Pearce at Euro ’96 as the emotion of his redemption story came full circle.
Beckham and England were sadly knocked out by Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Free-kick winner vs Ecuador (2006)
David Beckham had one more World Cup left in him. And while Posh Spice and the WAGs dominated headlines off the pitch in Germany, Becks was still a difference maker.
By this time Beckham had left Manchester United for Real Madrid, departing the Red Devils in 2003.
Beckham outshone the likes of Lampard and Gerrard, and even a young Wayne Rooney, who was dealing with a metatarsal injury of his own.
The free-kick wizard scored the winner against Ecuador in the last 16 to seal a scrappy 1-0 win in the searing heat.
It was the last game Beckham won at the World Cup, eliminated on penalties against Portugal in the quarter-finals, also known as the ‘Ronaldo-Rooney wink game’.
What is your most memorable David Beckham World Cup moment?
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