How Good Was David Beckham?

Photo Credit – Nathan Forget (no changes made) under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Marrying Victoria Beckham, one fifth of the pop group Spice Girls, as well as playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid and the England national team are just some of the reasons why David Beckham is so famous.

While he is certainly one of the most famous footballers, many ask how good was David Beckham? In this article, we answer this question by analysing his playing style, achievements, criticisms and legacy.

Was David Beckham a Good Player?

A divided figure, David Beckham’s skills included elite level passing, crossing and set-piece taking abilities, but he had question marks around his discipline and temper. He was a provider for his attacking teammates, amassing an impressive number of assists during his career. Furthermore, he won 6 Premier League titles, the triple (Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League) and came runner-up in the 1999 Ballon d’Or.

Playing Style and Strengths

Beckham had a unique playing style and many strengths which helped him have a coveted career in football. His strengths include the following – technical skills, crossing and free-kick ability, leadership qualities and work ethic.

Technical Skills

David Beckham’ skills were mostly technical, which allowed him to progress his career to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Manchester United and Real Madrid. His passing range, was second to none, and this meant that he was able to create lots of goal scoring opportunities for his teammates.

His vision was also at an elite level. This combined with his passing ability meant the was able to complete passes that most players could only dream of.

Due to his technical abilities, he racked up 214 assists in 718 club appearances, as well as 42 assists in 115 appearances for England. His assists heavily outweighed the number of goals that he scored during his career. 

Crossing and Free-kick Ability

There’s no doubt that the skills that Beckham was most notable for were his crossing and free-kick abilities. Beckham scored an incredible amount of free-kicks, and currently holds the record for the most amount of Premier League free-kicks scored (18).

His free-kick taking ability directly translated into being able to deliver elite-level crosses. This meant that Beckham became a provider for Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole during his time at Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson set his side up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Beckham playing in the right-midfield position. This meant that Beckham regularly found himself in a prime position to deliver dangerous crosses for his teammates.

Watch some of David Beckhams most impressive Premier League free kicks below:

Leadership Qualities

During his career, David Beckham, was regarded as a leader both on and off the pitch. His main leadership qualities were his incredible ability to communicate with his teammates, as well as demonstrating impressive charisma.

Beckham’s communication skills were rewarded when he wore the captain’s armband for the England national team from 2000 to 2006. At both club and international level, the midfielder was willing to provide guidance and support to teammates as and when they needed it.

Moreover, as Beckham became more and more famous, he was able to demonstrate more charisma on and off the pitch. His presence helped to inspire and motivate his teammates, while also becoming a fan-favourite at the same time. He was a highly respected footballer, which is often tough for players who are heavily cast under the media spotlight.

Work Ethic and Dedication

Other examples of David Beckham’s skills were his work ethic and dedication. He was widely known to be one of the first players to arrive at the training ground, as well as one of the last to leave. He was a focused professional who was extremely committed to improving his game.

An example of this would be how he would stay after training sessions to work on his free-kick technique. Over his career, he would’ve taken thousands of practice free-kicks to allow himself to progress and become one of the greatest ever set piece takers.

It’s this kind of dedication that helped Beckham become so respected by his peers, managers and fans.

David Beckham Stats

Now let’s look at some of the achievements and accolades that David Beckham has won throughout his impressive career. Having mainly played for five sides – Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and PSG, Beckham has been able to win lots of different titles and awards in different domestic competitions.

Domestic Titles

David Beckham has won 21 domestic titles during his 21-year senior career:

Manchester United

• 6x Premier League titles: 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01 and 2002/03
• 2x FA Cup: 1995/96 and 1998/99
• 4x English Super Cup Winner: 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998
• UEFA Champions League: 1998/99
• Intercontinental Cup: 2000

Real Madrid

• La Liga title: 2006/07
• Supercopa de España: 2003/04

LA Galaxy

• 2x MLS Cup: 2010/11 and 2011/12
• 2x Supporters’ Shield: 2009/10 and 2010/11

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1 title: 2012/13

Individual Awards

Although Beckham won an impressive 21 domestic trophies, his individual awards are a little more sparse. In 1999, he won the UEFA Best Player in Europe accolade after winning the treble (Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League) with Manchester United. This ended up being the only individual award that he won during his career.

He did come runner-up in the prestigious Ballon d’Or in the same season, losing out to Barcelona’s Rivaldo. In addition to this, he was twice runner-up for FIFA’s World Player of the Year in 1999 and 2001.

Additional honours consist of his induction into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.

Criticisms and Controversies

Although David Beckham’s career has been positively recognised, he was subject to being criticised on a number of occasions. It’s worth noting that the following criticisms were not universally agreed-upon, with many football enthusiasts admiring Beckham’s playing style and attitude throughout his career.

Criticisms of His Playing Style and Attitude

Some criticisms of David Beckham’s playing style and attitude were:

• Over-Reliance on Crossing
• Lack of Pace
• Tackling Abilities
• Temper and Professionalism

Over-Reliance on Crossing

Because David Beckham was an elite level ball striker, some argued that Beckham relied too heavily on his ability to cross the ball during games. The argument was that he could’ve contributed to matches through other aspects instead.

Lack of Pace

Being a wide midfielder, Beckham could have benefitted from having a bit more pace. He wasn’t a quick player, which made it difficult for him to take on players in 1v1 scenarios. This is a contributing factor to why he used to cross the ball so much during matches.

Instead of dribbling the ball past players, Beckham preferred to find space and make clever passes to get past defenders. He had a fantastic relationship with Gary Neville during his time at Manchester United, which allowed them to create overloads in high areas of the pitch.

Tackling Abilities

Although tackling isn’t high up on the priorities for an attacking midfielder, Beckham really lacked in this area of the game. This meant that whenever he was carrying out his defensive duties, he was prone to giving away unnecessary free kicks.

Temper and Professionalism

At times, Beckham’s temper and petulance on the pitch led to him receiving unnecessary bookings and even red cards. During his time at Real Madrid, the midfielder picked up 41 yellow cards and four red cards, which demonstrated his temper on the pitch.

During his first World Cup competition with England in 1998, Beckham was benched for the opening two matches as he was accused of ‘not focusing enough on the team’.

This lack of professionalism was then further highlighted when he played in England’s Round of 16 match against Argentina. He received a red card in the game for kicking out at midfielder Diego Simeone, and England subsequently lost the tie on penalties.

At Euro 2000, the conflict between Beckham and the English supporters escalated to almost breaking point. During a group match against Portugal, Beckham assisted two goals, however England lost the match 3-2. Following the final whistle, the England players were severely harassed by English fans, and Beckham’s response was to swear at them.

Beckham eventually won back the fans’ approval in October 2001 by scoring one of the most iconic free-kicks ever. England drew 2-2 with Greece, which proved to be enough to secure England’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

Legacy and Impact

Beckham’s Influence on Football

David Beckham had a huge influence on football, particularly in England. His free-kick taking abilities are still talked about today, with many players attempting to replicate similar success in this area of the game.

The iconic moments Beckham has created through his free-kicks will be remembered for years to come.

Popularity and Cultural Significance

In addition to his impressive abilities on the pitch, David Beckham is a global sensation and one of the most notable footballers in the world, having a profound impact on both football and popular culture.

Off the field, Beckham’s relationship with famous pop star Victoria Beckham certainly pushed him into the focus of world tabloid newspapers. Off the field, Beckham’s impeccable style and fashion sense made him a trendsetter in popular culture. These are some of the key reasons why David Beckham is so famous.

Because of this, he has partnered with a variety of fashion labels and designers, including H&M, Armani, and Louis Vuitton. He’s also graced the covers of numerous fashion magazines and earned the title “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine.

Beyond fashion, Beckham’s influence on popular culture also includes charitable and philanthropic work, and he serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He has been a vocal advocate for social causes such as LGBTQ+ rights and anti-malaria campaigns, too.

Beckham as a Role Model

By having such a high-profile career, David Beckham became a role model for many future football players. His celebrity status meant that he wasn’t just a role model for football enthusiasts either, with people interested in fashion, music and philanthropy looking up to him too.

Following his retirement from football in 2013, Beckham has mostly maintained an impressive brand image, and is still a role model for millions of people across the world.

Conclusion

How good was Beckham? David Beckham’s skills and iconic status meant that he was able to win some of the biggest domestic trophies at some of the most significant clubs across the world. A one of a kind ball striker, the English midfielder created several iconic moments that will stand the test of time.

Although there were question marks around his temper and attitude during his career, he has created a positive brand image. This is an impressive feat considering the amount of limelight he has had during his career.

Was David Beckham a good footballer? Certainly, but was he one of the best ever players? Probably not. His all round game and stats mean that he probably can’t be mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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