David Beckham: How I overcame the darkest moment of my career
David Beckham has revealed he still cannot forgive himself for the abuse his family suffered amid the fallout from his red card at the 1998 World Cup, which left him a “mess”.
A new Netflix documentary series titled ‘Beckham’ is set for release on Wednesday, looking back on the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder’s career as well as his marriage to Spice Girls singer and fashion designer Victoria.
But behind his glamorous and glittering career, there is a story of struggle, resilience and redemption. A story of how he faced the biggest challenge of his life and emerged stronger and wiser.
The 1998 World Cup in France was supposed to be Beckham’s breakthrough on the international stage. He was 23 years old, fresh from winning the Premier League and the FA Cup with Manchester United. He was in love with Victoria Adams, the pop star known as Posh Spice. He was confident, talented and ambitious.
But everything changed in one fateful moment on June 30, 1998. England were playing Argentina in the round of 16, a classic encounter between two old rivals. The score was 2-2 after a thrilling first half that saw Beckham score a brilliant free kick to equalize.
In the second half, however, disaster struck. Beckham was fouled by Argentina’s captain Diego Simeone, who fell to the ground clutching his face. As Beckham lay on the floor, he flicked his right leg at Simeone in retaliation. The referee saw it and showed him a straight red card.
Beckham was stunned. He walked off the pitch in disbelief, as the Argentine players celebrated and the English fans booed. He knew he had made a mistake, but he did not realize how big it was.
England went on to lose the match on penalties, ending their World Cup dream. Beckham became the scapegoat for the defeat, the villain of the nation. He faced a barrage of criticism, abuse and hatred from the media, the public and even some of his teammates.
He later revealed that he was “clinically depressed” after the incident12. He said he felt like he had let down his country, his family and himself3. He said he wished he could erase that memory from his mind1.
But Beckham did not give up. He decided to face his demons and prove his critics wrong. He worked hard to improve his game and his attitude. He won over his Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who supported him throughout his ordeal. He became one of the best players in the world, winning the treble with United in 1999 and finishing second in the Ballon d’Or voting.
He also rebuilt his reputation with England, becoming their captain in 2000 and leading them to two more World Cups. He scored some of his most iconic goals for England, such as the last-minute free kick against Greece that qualified them for the 2002 World Cup4, or the penalty against Argentina that avenged his red card5.
He also became a role model for millions of fans around the world, inspiring them with his passion, professionalism and perseverance. He used his fame and fortune to support various causes and charities, such as UNICEF, Malaria No More and Sport Relief.
Beckham retired from football in 2013, after winning his last league title with Paris Saint-Germain. He is now involved in various business ventures, such as owning Inter Miami CF, a Major League Soccer team, or launching his own brand of whisky. He is also a devoted husband to Victoria Beckham, whom he married in 1999, and a loving father to their four children.
Beckham has come a long way from that dark day in 1998. He has turned his pain into power, his weakness into strength, his failure into success. He has shown that one mistake does not define you, but how you respond to it does.
He has shown that he is not just a footballer, but a legend.
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