David Beckham: Should Beckham Be Considered One of Football's Greatest?
Yet again, another footballer is making headlines for reasons other than the game.
David Beckham has become that latest high-profile player linked to a sex scandal. Beckham has categorically denied the claims against him.
But coming away from that, let’s talk about David Beckham for reasons regarding his profession—the only reason he should be making headlines.
As the most recognizable figure in all of sport, David Beckham has certainly reached a worldwide audience, but is he up there with the greats of the game?
Beckham is one of the most decorated English players ever to play the game. He won everything possible with Manchester United.
He came up through the ranks as part of the phenomenal crop of youth that United developed during the 90s.
On top of winning multiple medals with United, he also picked up some personal honours. In 1997, Beckham was named the PFA Young Player of the Year.
Two years later, he was named UEFA Club Player of the Year award.
More recently, Beckham has found himself named in the FIFA 100, a list of players handpicked by Pele whom he thought were the best living football players. He was also inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.
Beckham is just 42 career games away from hitting the 500 mark. Despite the tail end of his career becoming riddled with injuries, he should reach that milestone.
Along with club appearances, Beckham has also represented his country 115 times. Only Peter Shilton has played more times for England. Beckham surpassed greats such as Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton on his way to becoming England's second-most capped player.
David Beckham is one of the best passers of the ball in world football. Few players can match his ability to spot and delivery a pass.
He's managed to have a very successful career as a right midfielder without been gifted with any great deal of pace.
Beckham is one of the world's best dead-ball specialists. The term dead-ball specialist gets thrown around a lot, with anyone who scores a handful of free kicks having the label attached to them.
Beckham, on the other hand, is very much deserving of the accolade. Free kicks—close range and far from goal, penalties, and corner kicks—are all very dangerous situations when David Beckham steps up to take them.
Many people criticize Beckham for his choices later in career, which many claim to be geared more toward money and his off-field career rather than his footballing career. But that does not take away from what he has accomplished over the entirety of his career, and what he still may manage to take.
His arrival to Major League Soccer has certainly had its benefits for soccer’s popularity in America. If nothing else, that, in itself, is an accomplishment worthy of credit.
Beckham is certainly a bigger figure worldwide than the likes of footballing greats such as Diego Maradona, Pele, and Johan Cruyff, but will he be listed alongside them when he retires from the game?
In some eyes, it is possible.
But in most, I doubt it.
