Was David Beckham REALLY A Great Footballer?

[@TF-uo5cg]

Peak Becks was unreal, covered more distance than any player in the world at the time, scored important goals and assisted important goals, big game player, could play anywhere in the middle. One of my favourite players

[@ektran4205]

beck'hams speed was above average

[@dddgtsd]

not for a winger though, I'm not shitting on him cos he was world class at his peak and people focussed too much on his weaknesses but he didn't have the acceleration or skill to take a man on, didn't need to though most the time.@@ektran4205

[@BakedSpud]

He played on the right

[@davidgriffith1552]

@@BakedSpudAlmost like you didn’t actually watch the video or something…

[@TF-uo5cg]

@@BakedSpud he sure did.....

[@shahzadirani]

Beckham was world class. He could play at a world class level at RM and CM (he played CM in the 1999 FA Cup Final and 1999 UCL Final). He was intelligent in link up play with the midfield and forwards, he would track back and defend well, and he is one of the best passers of the ball the game has ever seen. And he was also a big game player who scored crucial goals and assisted when it mattered most (goal on the final day of the 1999 PL season vs Spurs, a crucial goal in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final vs that Arsenal side, the 2002 free-kick vs Greece to qualify England for the World Cup, and he delivered the two corners that sealed the Treble for United in 1999). An absolute legend of the game.

[@mysteryman480]

I would say world class, but only just. He was consistently comfortably in the top 50 but never in the top 5 players in the world.

[@leeriddick7]

@@mysteryman480are you old enough to have watched him at the time? He was easily top 10 between 1999 and 2003, and arguably for even longer than that. He finished 2nd in the Balon D’or in 1999 and 4th in 2001.

[@mysteryman480]

@@leeriddick7 I watched him mostly between 1992 and 1998, so perhaps I didn't see the best of him in that case.

[@abraham8178]

Can you tell me more about fa cup final? I can't find the match. It's interesting to see him play with Scholes. Both isn't a ball winner nor keane style work rate

[@philmccavity3854]

​@@mysteryman480Beckham should have won the ballon d'or that 98/99 season. Especially after the world cup stuff. He was unbelieveable. Played in the middle that night in a makeshift midfield. A wizard of a player. PWatched him at Madrid on the old La Liga show during the galacticos era. Becks, Zidane, Raul, Figo, Carlos, Ronaldo lining up for Madrid. Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto'o, Puyol for Barca. Valencia had a cracking team too with Aimar an absolute genius on his day. What a player. Young David Villa too! Becks never looked out of place among those names. Underappreciated completely. And far from a one trick pony at United, what culture you lack, Adam!!

[@robynroyale5823]

I realised David Beckham is a beast when I was in college and we had to do the bleep test, we were talking about high scores and who was gunna run the best, the fastest guy could just about scrape level 13 and he was basically just built different out-stripped everyone. Then the instructor joined the conversation and casually mentioned that the test goes up to level 25 and that David Beckham complete 'the HARD version' of it pretty easily as part of his fitness regime o.O David Beckham is basically Jay from the Inbetweeners but can actually back up what he says o.O

[@DonaldBlake287]

That's insane! I never knew Beckham had fitness like that. I did the bleep test in college when in playing shape (played NCAA). I think I got like 14 or 15, the best guy on the team who was an absolute beast, got a 17 and his nose was bleeding and he threw up. I remember thinking at the time that it wasn't even possible to reach level 25 because you'd basically be sprinting at that point. To think Beckham did that pretty easily blows my mind.

[@richardg8376]

The bleep test? Completed it, mate.

[@FourFourTwo]

TWENTY FIVE!? If I’d known that I’d have mentioned it

[@marcscammell9796]

Its 21 levels, but yes beckham giggs and Yorke apparently completed it

[@dddgtsd]

seeing the amount of cigars Yorke smoked this really surprises me haha! @@marcscammell9796

[@owengodberson4694]

This was one of the most interesting football KZbin videos I’ve ever watched. Would love to see more analysis of players from the past like Zidane or R9

[@Vipers_Pit]

David Beckham was actually my idol. He was the reason I started playing football/soccer as you like to call it. And he was the reason I was training my fri kick.

[@Enzoblueblood]

Yes. His mental fortitude was extraordinary: hammering that penalty straight down the middle against Argentina and the undisguised catharsis in his celebration remains an iconic moment in the story of the England national team. And he’s carried that fortitude into his present successes. An England legend.

[@mowvu]

exactly. only four years later and he was cold as ice. too stupid to feel pressure like cole palmer? maybe, but he knew what it meant. like psycho banging in that pen against spain in 96

[@DebdootBasuRay]

Opta puts David Beckham's all time career assists at 269. Recently KdB equalled his record. KdB was is an attacking position, Beckham played deep in the midfield. Absolutely insane stats.

[@quentinhirschfeld9382]

Yet always fumbled when it mattered. He ruined RM when he arrived, they were dominating Spanish football and when they boguyth him they didn't even won La Liga.

[@heijimikata7181]

@@quentinhirschfeld9382 They won La Liga in his last season and he was instrumental to it. The season before, he saved them several times with his through balls and work rate and was statistically the most efficient midfielder in La Liga ahead of prime Ronaldinho, dragging an inconsistent Real Madrid to a 2nd place behind Barca which led to his own manager singing praises to Beckham in the press. Even Barca legend Hristo Stoichkov called Beckham “the best foreign purchase in the Madrid squad at the moment”. All of this was strangely ignored by the English press. Management should be blamed for not buying a defensive midfileder, not him. In fact, I’d argue that for all his brilliance, Guti should have been sold long ago for his inconsistency.

[@bradleyhadfield3442]

@@quentinhirschfeld9382delivered the 2 corners that clinched united the treble but wasn’t good in clutch moments, do me a favour

[@Shuddho1980]

@@quentinhirschfeld9382are you serious?? Brcks wasnt the problem at Madrid. The profile of the seller they sold (Makelele) to get him was. If you sell, say, Marquinhos, to add, say Brahim Diaz with an attacking trio of Neymar, Messi and Mbappe, you arent making PSG a better tesm. That’s no shade on Diaz. Becks was great at Madrid; but a ‘defensive pivot’ of him and Guti (another pass master but hardly a defensive midfielder), in front of some questionable defenders like Pavon, and some others like Carlos who (while undeniably good) were marauding forward at every opportunity was not exactly a recipe for clean sheets. But statistically he was even better at United as they had a more balanced team. He had more total assists than anyone in the league during his 8 years in the Prem; he had more goal contributions (goals + assists) than anyone not a striker in those times (and incredibly 4th highest even if you add strikers!); and speaking about impact - he was the best player in the team that actually won a frikking treble. His stats that year were insane, as it was during those years in the turn of the millenia. His first touch and game intelligence is waay ahead of English players of that generation. You watch him play, look at the softness of touch, the ability to evade players much faster than him just by control and change of pace, was incredible. It wasn’t just about his passing and shooting as many current fans think. And the best indictment of it is what his co-players and managers thought - you ask his teammates at Madrid (the great Zidane and Ronaldo), or United, or Ac Milan, or even his one season at PSG (where even Zlatan was gushing about him); and the fact that Ancelloti asked for him everywhere he went (even at 38 to (PSG). Plus, in top of all that ability, there’s that ability to cover more ground than anyone.

[@Rabinfunk]

@@bradleyhadfield3442 tell me you know nothing, no clutch moments? ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!!!! Beckham was all clutch

[@Glimiril]

Paul Scholes was another reason Beckham wasn't in the middle at United, another World class underrated player. But yes Becks was just awesome and so was Scholes.

[@groo_soob]

Beckham only overshadowed Scholesy because he was a media darling, I'd take Scholes despite his lack of discipline every time, controlled the midfield as a genius. And I'm a l'm a bindipper

[@AryanRey1332]

Scholes was terrible. Couldn't tackle, no pace, poor passing accuracy, minimal assists, terrible internationally. I don't want to offend you, but if you are white (black people and browns can't analyse football) watch old footage, Scholes was a good player, but not a top player. Any midfielder playing today, ANY, even shitty Thomas Partey, is a better player than Paul Scholes was. The reason Ferguson kept him in the team was that his long passing accuracy was world class. However, as a footballer, he was poor.

[@iainmaley3319]

@@groo_soob Beckham had a phenomenal (and under appreciated) work rate but was still the 4th best midfielder out of the quartet of Giggs-Keane-Scholes-Beckham

[@OserojiemenKing]

​@@iainmaley3319💯

[@agin1519]

@@iainmaley3319I think Clery is making the argument that judged by different or more modern standards Beckham and Scholes were better playmakers.

[@WicksyOnPS3in720p]

Beckham was exceptional his 'one trick pony' stuff. But what regularly gets overlooked, and I'm glad Adam brought it up here, was his work rate & defensive intensity. He was very happy to leave some studs in, showing no mercy. As nasty as Neville was, Beckham more than stood up for himself. You can't hit those kind of running averages if you aren't working back again. Teams would target Beckham's side as it was perceived as weaker than Giggs' side. Total mistake too. United were a brilliantly balanced team, left & right, skill & endeavour, intensity & moments of magic!

[@dddgtsd]

you don't play 400 games under Fergie without having that competitiveness and bite I guess.

[@162tsb7]

Well said this kid had an ability no one else can hold a light to . People also forget what a wonderful first touch he had.

[@samueloverend3517]

My memory is that he was very good at tracking back and getting in the way, but maybe not so good at winning the ball in the tackle.

[@WicksyOnPS3in720p]

@@samueloverend3517 Going to have to disagree here. If you watch full games you'll see his work rate was phenomenal, and he was very aggressive in the tackle. Nasty even 👍

[@samueloverend3517]

@@WicksyOnPS3in720pNo disagreement on work rate. He'd be aggressive in the tackle, but would get the man more than the ball - or miss everything.

[@zephawisher]

That trophy Beckham won in his last season of Madrid was was crazy. Beckham carried that team

[@lorddroid9993]

Beckham carried Real Madrid? Ahahah What drugs are you on pal?! Ahahahahah

[@whatscookinginthekitchen8520]

Brother. That season, beckham carried Madrid to the title. It was incredible because an english player doing this after a tough start was unheard of. Normally, this would be wild take..he, however, according to a lot of laliga experts and fans too, was Madrids talisman that season, especially the 2nd half of it. It was incredible to watch unfold. the kind of passes, wow. Ask Zizou about that season.@@lorddroid9993

[@gipgap4]

@@lorddroid9993he certainly was in peak form at the time. He’d been frozen out of the 1st team for a while but the players insisted that he played. He proved his worth in that season for sure.

[@lorddroid9993]

@@gipgap4 A side midfielder who rarely had a chance to play in his natural position at Real Madrid because he simply wasn't good enough to replace Figo or Solari... I remember Beckham's time at Real Madrid very well, he was very successful at what he was good at. Selling products through his Spice boy image. Mcmanaman and Bale had a greater (football) impact at Real Madrid than David.

[@gipgap4]

@@lorddroid9993I too watched his time with Real Madrid and to say he didn’t do much more than sell merchandise is a bit uncharitable to say the least. Funny how recollections can be so different.

[@darrenanthony66]

Great video. As a season ticket holder for his entire time at United his work rate shone through clearly at every game. He was also much better on the ball than people give him credit for. Glen Hoddle spotted his potential for central midfield and people remember the Argentina sending off rather than the quality of those England performances. A lovely fella off the pitch, always patient and courteous with fans and devoting lots of time to charitable causes from very early in his career.

[@mojebi3804]

I always thought Beckham and Pirlo had a similar skillset. So glad to hear someone else say it. But because Beckham was English and his "celeb lifestyle" he was either idolized by people that hardly knew football, and those that actually did (but not really) underrated the hell out of him.

[@FourFourTwo]

This is something that’s become really apparent watching it with my flatmate. She knew so much about him but had no idea he was actually a good player and won loads of trophies. She’d never even seen the Greece goal

[@Qlicky]

Disagree. I've watched Beckham's entire career and I think Pirlo was a much better player.

[@JohnM-ch4to]

@@Qlicky Pirlo got to play regularly on the deep lying midfield role. Beckham could pick an assist from the halfway line on the wing but he doesn't have the same knowledge from central midfield. You can't compare which one is better than the other anyway, it's football.

[@Qlicky]

@@JohnM-ch4to You absolutely can. Beckham had a godlike delivery and a long ball. Pirlo had that and everything else. No comparison really. Pirlo was a lot better all-around midfielder than Beckham. In other words, Pirlo could do almost anything Beckham did, and do it better. Beckham was a dead ball/free kick specialist, I will give him that. But he was never a world class midfielder.

[@JohnM-ch4to]

@@Qlicky I don't know whatever bias you have or what but you do you. It's an opinion either way. Pirlo was a deep lying midfield playmaker and is better at that but it's not Beckham's natural position at least in the maturity of his career. That's why you can't really compare. It's like comparing Messi and Ronaldo, throw stats around like goals only to find out they had different roles tactically. A player like Beckham is already world class though? His godlike ball delivery was more than enough for him in club and country.

[@o-wolf]

People always forget Beckham STARTED his career in the middle, especially when he was number 24/10.. when kanchelskis was out on the wing He was playing centrally in THAT world cup campaign under Hoddle too, but eventually he slotted into that custom built WIDE wide man position so long he nearly forgot how to play centrally till he got around Zizou &R9 &Figo &re-upped his game, whilst retaining his inhuman workrate &commitment

[@1lovebaybee]

Mid fielder and he was rhe biggest beast ❤

[@1lovebaybee]

He was a mid fielder. Meaning he had to do the most. We all know who truly love futbol aka soccer lol. Ty for acknowledging that bc I think ppl forget how hard thar truly is

[@imanton_20]

best right foot in the history of the game. No one could cross like he did and his freekicks were out of this world. His long passes were always perfectly timed and dropped exactly were they needed to be. But what lot of people forget because he's a pretty face is : his work rate, his grit, his tenacity and the fact that he covered more ground than anyone in both direction of the pitch. He was a great defender and wasn't afraid to dirty his kit. He was the perfect RM and he sacrificed himself for the team and had amazing vista, vision and awareness. And more than that, he's always delivered on the biggest stage, in the biggest games with assists, goals

[@Morlock1943]

But still he was rubbish.

[@eugenemartone7023]

Absolute rubbish with the ball, and without. Slow and pretty bad at everything except crossing, corners and free kicks. And agreed, he probably had the best crosses of all time (imo) and some of the best free kicks and corners, but he was wasted in RM where he replaced Carlos as free kick taker (which was perhaps good for consistency, but more of a sideways move) and was never able to compliment the other players in his new role. But that cross though, and the work ethic! Great player but he moved to the wrong team and couldn’t properly showcase his strengths. Remember that they had Zidane dictating play (and Guti) and Carlos’ overlap on the left was great but Beckhams slower more precise crosses actually took some of the edge off (rather than enhance that threat) most of the time imo. Had he moved to a team like Arsenal where he could compliment players like Henry and Pires he’d be a footballing legend at this point, rather than a pop culture reference imho

[@RussingtonS4678]

Nonsense. Grief....it was good but Ive seen kids with better right feet who could bend a ball. C,mon, you Beckamites make him sound world class when he was only good. Even SAF thought he was overrated.

[@imanton_20]

@ lol

[@patpat8727]

He wouldn't even be a RM/RW today. He would be a RB or nothing.

[@Foreverthefathers89]

This guy paved the way for the modern-day iconic RW position (and Utd #7). Will forever be a legend! GGMU ❤

[@mafiosol_buenavida]

Uh?? ... 🤔

[@ryanowens9084]

What's fascinating about that 98/99 season was it was off the back of the sending off against Argentina where he was vilified by the English media and by the British public (which is why I think he gets underrated). The papers put his face on a dartboard and pubs were hanging effigies of him, yet he would go on to have the best season an English player has had in the PL. He turned up in every big game that year with key goals and assists, his goal against Arsenal in the fa cup semi, his assist for Roy Keane a goal against Juve as well as those in the final all spring to mind, the list goes-on. It's a great injustice he lost to Rivaldo for the ballon d'or who's Barcelona didn't make it out of the group stage because Man United knocked them out.

[@Mad_Intellect]

United didn't knock them out tbf they drew both games home and away, it's the two losses against Bayern that did them in. If they won at home against Bayern, they would have been 1st and Bayern would have been 3rd. Also I love Becks (United fan), but Rivaldo man, even the goals he scored against us smh, that overhead/bicycle kick was madness lol.

[@DanielSong39]

@@Mad_Intellect Beckham was a great player who had his best season but we're talking about Rivaldo LOL Not exactly a travesty

[@ryanowens9084]

@@DanielSong39 Rivaldo was class, but as a deluded United fan if there is any hill I’d die on its this one 😂

[@Mad_Intellect]

@@ryanowens9084 Man I miss those days...simpler, happier times. Hope United can win tonight.

[@IAmCrumpton]

It was disgusting how everyone treated him after that World Cup! And that the press spurned them on! David Seaman must of been happy though for getting him off the hook as he gave away such a terrible penalty to gift Argentina a goal in that 2-2 draw and never came close to saving one of the penalties he faced, was terrible goal keeping and all the blame went to becks. It was a stupid thing to do to get sent off but Simione rolled around like he’d been shot!

[@famdouglas5198]

I remember watching him being subbed off for England ( in his last game? ) in a pub full of fans who considered him a wanker. Couldn't believe the abuse he got. He always gave 100% for England. Seemed an alright guy and very good player to me

[@FourFourTwo]

Can remember being a kid and hearing someone on tele advocating for starting Shaun Wright-Phillips at the World Cup instead of “needlessly accommodating Beckham”. Even back then I was like… “is he mad?”

[@QuotidianStupidity]

As Zlatan said, “anyone who doesn’t like Beckham is just jealous”

[@paolo1chop]

I was tired of Beckham at the end of his England career because it was just his long diagonal balls over and over again. We were so predictable.

[@DanielSong39]

Well he only gave 50% against Argentina in 1998 LOL OK, it was 1 mistake, he's more than proven his greatness before and since

[@freeleestoilet9833]

Towards the end of his England career he was just slowing the game down. He would get the ball around the half way line, jog for a few seconds, then hit a hollywood pass that wouldn't really advance the play. He was like a better TAA. I think he bought into the Pirlo thing too much, he was never world class in CM and when he wasn't running his socks off he was just almost there to hit a few long passes for the highlights and nothing else. His free kicks were incredible his whole career though. England took it for granted how good the set pieces were, when Beckham retired suddenly everyone was struggling to beat the first man.

[@macoooos9204]

Yes he was WC. Very underrated player. Best passer of the ball in the world.

[@mattegan3439]

In my humble opinion, he wasn't even the best passer of the ball in that Man Utd team. Scholes was another level higher.

[@macoooos9204]

@@mattegan3439 funny j nearly put Scholes was a close second. Gazza was also very good.

[@PullThatUpJamie]

@@mattegan3439scholes never whipped the ball onto players heads consistently.

[@noahholland1795]

He was the best crosser of the ball in England and was devastating from freekicks. And yes, he was overrated.

[@mattegan3439]

@@PullThatUpJamie Agreed. Scholes played in the middle so didn't have to. Beckham was undoubtedly a phenomenal crosser of the ball. Stats back that up.

[@johnferguson4869]

Big thing was his uncanny self-assurance. I don’t know if he was always like this, but I watched his interview with Gary Neville (the one in Qatar) & he just seemed like he could be put into any situation and not be overwhelmed.

[@dansmith4766]

Honestly that whole United squad needs one of these videos about them. So many people these days underrate and frankly disrespect the likes of Neville, Scholes, Keane, Beckham, Yorke and Cole.

[@marcscammell9796]

Who on earth “under rates” the United side that won everything 😂

[@dansmith4766]

@@marcscammell9796 I know it seems ridiculous but there's actually a lot of people who do

[@kristaylor6694]

Todays United side look like little boys compared to those legends

[@JohnM-ch4to]

@@marcscammell9796 because they had so much talent but SAF made them stick to their role, you could say they're "one dimensional" in highlight for the eyes of new fans today. If I were to prove otherwise as an aged fan, my go to game would be when he fielded 7 defenders against Arsenal in the prem and WON 2-0

[@timboslice8559]

@@marcscammell9796idiots that’s who

[@vitorpavani7125]

Becks was an overall outstanding player. His workrate was crazy, he could set the tempo of the game, he could score and assist and everything you expect from a great midfielder. But on top of that he is by far the best crosser i've seen on this game and one of the best fk takers ever. And he was also a clutch assisting and scoring on the most important matches. And dude... was that boy pretty.

[@christopherreynolds9254]

Love this video - I always argue he was world class and underrated, and my mates laugh at me - will send them this vid

[@arkrde]

David Beckham is the kind of player that can actually break Guardiola football. With him in the team, nobody would dare complain against long ball, because they would always loose. Gosh I miss him.

[@chewmichael9133]

I think most people are confused when talking about Beckham. He was a right sided midfielder, not a winger in the mould of Robben, Giggs etc People who compared him to a traditional winger will think he’s overrated as he does not provide what a normal winger will provide. People who compare him to a right sided midfielder will know and understand his true value to the team.

[@upper9052]

2 Things: 1. The ball moves faster than any other player, and when you can play a ball that flies over 50 yards and it hits your teammate on the run, yeah, you’re fucking good. 2. Read number 1

[@Revelian1982]

Thank you for doing this video. The amount of disrespect he gets from people who haven't a clue really gets my goat. I watched every Real Madrid game, and he was incredible. He used to sweat that shirt.

[@1lovebaybee]

I think it's insane when we think about this. So many people put bad energy out there for one mistake literally. I mean could you imagine being him? Just being a good athlete and having all that pressure at such a young age. The loyalty was very questionable during his down years my god This man went through so much and still proved to the entire world. That he was a true natural.

[@DoYouEvenRift]

That stat at 9:18 is insane

[@pbuxton]

I used to literally have a footie-knowledge test called the ‘Becks test’ to establish if it was worth talking to someone about the game or not and it went thus: “Is David Beckham underrated or overrated as a footballer.” You smashed it. And I’m a Liverpool fan.

[@dddgtsd]

I think he's underrated as a player but the question sometimes gets misinterpreted. People consider whether his ability justifies his fame and it probably doesn't, he is one of the most famous footballer ever where as he probably isn't in the conversation for top 20 best players ever (maybe not even in the top fifty for that matter) . But that being said, people put him down because of this - the level of fame he had made people jealous and bitter, take away he money and fame he achieved and just looking at him as a player he was fantastic, world class a this peak and one of the best English players of my lifetime.

[@QuotidianStupidity]

@@dddgtsdpretty fair

[@RussellGeorge67]

The guy was an absolute grafter. Honest, hardworking and exceptionally talented. And that game against Greece, just watch it. I've never seen one man have so much impact on a game of football.

[@BeatsDownGaming]

Beckham's game against Greece has always been, to me, the best individual perform I've seen in an England shirt. him in the second half was other worldly how I grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, and his running stats prove it. To then top it off with his free kick to send us through was just something else.

[@hygia1915]

Im 2k1 and just started watchin football since 2011 so ur video help me have so much insight into the olden days of these legends. Thank uuu.

[@CheleAndSteveTravels]

Excellent analysis. Beckham was criminally underrated in England. One of my all time favourites.

[@jpnguyen11]

When Beckham came to the MLS, my friends and I were watching a game. He hit every single pass and created like 5 chances but ofc it’s the MLS so they only got like 1 goal.

[@johnny88sunday]

I realised after watching the Netflix documentary that he was the first global "brand" celebrity footballer I could think of, but it didn't affect his game. He showed up almost every week, and if he had a bad game he'd make up for it almost immediately. Thinking back now, thats unreal, take a look at your Neymar, Pogba, whatever these days, they're always getting distracted. Beckham was a machine!

[@SKa-tt9nm]

The first global “brand” celebrity footballer? Um… you’ve never heard of pele, Maradona or George best?

[@markovalntobresci5714]

Actually he was better than most people nowadays think. His massive star power and his lifestyle has led some people to believe that he was kind of a primadonna in the pitch, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Not only he was an amazing playmaker but he was physical, running and marking like there's no tommorow(in an era where most playmakers of his class werent)

[@QuotidianStupidity]

You’ve basically repeated what Adam says in the video 😂

[@innocento.1552]

Yeah, because people today do just a few of the Beckham's things and already become primadonna. So without knowing him it is easy to look down on him.

[@nickcooke5749]

Cracking video. I've definitely had conversations with people fairly recently addressing the fact that most people nowadays overlook the fact that he was a REALLY REALLY good footballer.

[@EmptyGlass99]

I saw Beckham play for England at Wembley - he never stopped running up and down the right wing for 90 minutes, despite barely receiving the ball. I've never seen anything like it - tirelessly sprinting back and forth. Incredible.

[@dedetrader983]

Let's put aside Beckham as a global icon, at his prime, off the pitch, he is famous as Cristiano and Messi, on the pitch he is top player with high level footballing skills, particularly his unique ability as a free-kick specialist and to make an accurate cross even when he's running, also Beckham was runner up 1999 FIFA's best player and third place in 2001

[@stevendchu]

It's simple really. Fergie was famous for being ruthless and getting rid of players in order to keep standards and motivation high. Beckham was a starter for 6 PL winning sides. You don't last for as long as he did without being a very talented player.

[@UraFlight]

I’ve seen David Beckham play . His work on the field was outstanding. He seems like he was running everywhere. And his crosses were magic. Also I love Fabregas crosses too.

[@donohoe71]

wonderful player, surely the best footballer in the world for a time.

[@flaauws]

I was commenting on a Stretford Paddock video the other day and mentioned exactly this: he wasn't quick but his fitness and the amount of sprinting he did meant that he would get to balls first a lot.

[@Squall10001]

It's mad how underrated he is. If anyone wants a brilliant example.of Beckham at his best, watch Man Utd Vs Real Madrid 2003. He didn't start the game but came on as a sub and ran the show.

[@liamr194]

There's so much revisionism going on 😂 His last two seasons at United he was arguably the best player in Europe, as a winger (mainly) He then went to Madrid, didn't have an overlapping full back, was asked to play inside and it exposed his limitations. Brilliant as a winger, limited as a midfielder. And without an overlapping full back to function as a "outside width" player, he was always restricted... People underestimate how important Gary Neville was for making Beckham look brilliant

[@kennywilkinson913]

He had it all, there's a forgotten goal against Madrid in the champions league in 2000, took it past 3 players with ease and rifled it last casilias into the top bin. Unreal player, massively under rated.

[@grahamnewton4381]

I have watched football for over 60 years and wouldn’t argue against anything in this video. As a Liverpool supporter I don’t like admitting that George Best is probably still the most naturally gifted player I have seen but as the video says Beckham was so good at what he was good at that he would have to be in my all time team even though in decades of watching thousands of games and players, there have been some outstanding talents. The only thing I would add to what is said here is that Beckham’s consistency and career long application along with a lack of histrionics and cheating was as remarkable as his playing ability.

[@nickcooke5749]

On a similar note, I'd love to see a video on Peter Beardsley. How he would fit into the modern game etc. The most underrated footballer in English history. Go watch one of his highlights videos and then watch a Messi highlights video. Obviously you can only tell so much from that, but they are EXACTLY the same. To the point where it's genuinely a bit spooky. Hugely important difference though. Beardsley was playing at a time when they grazed cattle on the pitch and defenders were out to remove your kneecaps, making his skills and abilities even more amazing. One of the best English players of all time and it blows my mind that he gets so overlooked so often. You can be the one to set the record straight, Adam!

[@2506JJhudson1990]

Beckham is criminally underrated by people. Not just his skill and physical attributes, but also his mental fortitude. Bouncing back from multiple setbacks in his career.

[@roolaing]

Great video. As always! Only thing I’d say is that it was him Roberto Carlos and Raul who were still there as part of the Galacticos era. If you’re saying RC was there beforehand (98?), and Raul was homegrown, fair enough! But they were both of the same calibre as Zidane and Figo (just for the unfamiliar!) Famously, Zidane made that comment about selling Makelele and buying Beckham as being similar to selling the engine and putting another lick of paint on your sports car. All that being said, Beckham was an incredible footballer. None of that is his fault. But RM probably didn’t need him when they signed him.

[@antonislopos5213]

He was an awesome player and it's so stupid to deny that even today after so many years.

[@CMDRGreyWolfe]

That was really good mate. Stumbled across this in my feed and given u a sub off the back of it (which I almost never do). Looking forward to more content.

[@gwenwalravens8030]

Becks never seemed to get tired. His sprints and runs to get the ball back asap often resulted in some form of high pressure.

[@joshmore7175]

He wasn't blessed with pace, but he wasn't exactly a slouch. His ability to pick a ball and how far he could do it from is just outrageous

[@jamesvictor2182]

Brilliant piece as ever. The number of looks I had over the years telling people how incredibly underrated he was. Ferguson was a ruthless exploiter of his players and put Beckham in a straight jacket before discarding him. Can't argue with all the titles but not a nice person. Hoddle had to push down on Beckham because of his own ego and should also be ashamed. I am 52 and knew all this before the documentary. In the end they couldn't keep him down, and people who really know footy know the truth about his level. Well done for exposing this to people, great to see. Sadly the resentment that brits feel towards posers and dandies will be forever obstructing people's views of one of our finest ever products

[@brunaciompi1717]

He was a great footballer but he never proved himself as an all the time great, he was not a football legend.

[@williamthompson2941]

YES ! AT LAST someone else noticed it was Beckham v Greece

[@dreadful_name2924]

Would love to see you do this for Paul Scholes too. He’s the one where the perception of him over time has become wildly different from the reality. Not to be as basic as saying he’s over or underrated, but the quote from Zidane has really warped his reputation. On a separate but similar point, fascinating that Beckham was doing the central midfield role in the late 2000s and that not even Capello noticed - instead trying to bring Scholes out of retirement (I know Beckham was injured in that tournament though).

[@XboneMalone]

Even without Zidane saying what he did, you still had Guardiola, Xavi, Iniesta saying similar...

[@oldskoolmusicnostalgia]

@@XboneMalone Those quotes are not helpful at all and provide just lazy summaries. One can only take them seriously if stated by people who did actually watch Scholes throughout entire matches, not highlights.

[@dreadful_name2924]

@@XboneMaloneI agree with the other guy. Zidane saying something makes everyone go ‘must’ve been a particular kind of classy midfielder’ but he was pretty unique in all honesty. He didn’t lie deeply until waaay after he’d retired from England duty and SAF had him as a striker for a long time. He’d even played a lot off the striker and out to the left for Man U in the early 2000s so Sven putting him on the left wasn’t quite as stupid as people say. Doesn’t mean he was using him right but it wasn’t as simple as putting him in the middle and we’d have had our own Zico either.

[@XboneMalone]

@@oldskoolmusicnostalgia are you seriously suggesting that any of those players didn't watch scholes in a full 90 minutes? Let alone on a regular basis? Scholes was the best midfielder of the 3 (himself, Gerrard and Lampard)... and that's from not just watching highlights

[@dreadful_name2924]

@@XboneMaloneyou’ve missed the point. No one’s arguing Scholes wasn’t good. He was just different to what people think.

[@L05_]

This has easily become one of, if not my favorite football tactics and analysis channels! Love your match breakdowns and insight, and thank you for yet another great video (Beckham was really damn good). I have one bit of friendly audio feedback- sometimes when you produce plosive sounds while speaking, the mic picks it up as deep bumps which are quite audible on headphones or bigger speakers and can be distracting . A pop filter and/or low cut EQ might help mitigate this. Again, fantastic work! You have a faithful subscriber in Los Angeles who is always looking forward to the next four four two drop ⚽️

[@benetedmunds]

Really insightful video. As an average UK football fan, I love to watch Utd fail, but, yeah, Beckham (and that sodding class of 92) are/were something special. Curse them! 😛

[@terryhsiao1745]

That 14 plus KM running is one of the stats I remembered about him and that was amazing back and even today.

[@martincooper9982]

You never mention that one of his big issues with Ferguson was that he wanted to move into central midfield, but Ferguson refused for all the reasons you give. It’s funny, because you explain it all perfectly, but missed out mentioning that Beckham was desperate to play in central midfield for years at Utd.

[@aimanharithazram8971]

When people asked me which footballer I want to play like, it has always been Beckham. The bend is one thing but the passes are the main reason. To spoonfeed your attackers... That's the best pass ever

[@Malc180s]

That Greece game was unbelievable, and was the moment I realised what a player he was. I'm not English - I enjoy watching English commentators get all grumpy when England lose - but i couldn't help but support Beckham that night. The best footballer on the planet right then.

[@andylikesstuffchannel]

I watched as many games as I could back then only year younger and massive united fan from the 80s witnessed everything. Beckham was World Class

[@Rich-xz3lo]

His short passing in tight spaces was excellent as well. Becks, Keane, Scholes all passing it round and never losing it. All technically skilled players which controlled games and won titles

[@FourFourTwo]

Yeah nearly did a bit on his short game (and tackling) but I was running at 15+ minutes already and there was a pint waiting for me

[@dddgtsd]

Not one of those players but I read a great thing about Gerrard in training and how when Liverpool signed a new player he would hammer passes as hard as he could into the feet to test their touch. Sounds like an awful person to train with but it was all about setting a standard and showing new players the intensity of the league. I imagine being a young lad going into that England team at the time would've been difficult.

[@timboslice8559]

Crazy England never won a World Cup with them

[@timboslice8559]

Instead of Keane, Gerrard

[@djevans614]

Thank you!! As a real united fan who watched him score at wembly from half field, and have that jersey hanging on my wall. I totally agree and have been saying for decades, he is WAY BETTER THAN ANYONE GIVES HIM CREDIT FOR.

[@ohforgodsake8486]

I think because he was the first to become a fashion icon, it took the emphasis off the fact he was a footballer 😄 As though we all forgot how good he was.

[@osmannaseem7085]

Great tribute for a great player.pep would probably have him in midfield playing 5 yard passes

[@flaauws]

And the one-trick pony idea in the UK: so what? He was SO GOOD at it that even though everyone knew what he was going to do, they couldn't stop him. The fact that he didn't win the ballon d'or in 1999 is a travesty.

[@sargonsblackgrandfather2072]

Yes. He doesn’t get the respect he deserves these days but anyone who watched Man Us treble winning run in 98/99 knows how intrinsic he was to that plus that he also single handedly dragged England to the 2002 World Cup. I’d go as far to say if you asked any striker in history who they’d want putting in a cross for them they’d all choose Beckham

[@banyakakal4299]

He was so underrated, I have never watched a KZbin video asking players to name their world 11, Beckham never came up

[@dman6261]

Federico Valverde reminds me a lot to him, maybe with less passing skills, but faster o the run

[@gh0stransist0r]

yeah, didn't know he existed before Real Madrid, but boy his Real Madrid days.. he was so good R9 just need one touch to score.

[@wilsonbarbosa6962]

Finally someone who thinks like me ! I think he would do pretty much watch KdB does! I do love KDB playing

[@leonardobonilla4866]

I would say yes when you think hes basically a better version of Trent Alexander Arnold. Dude could literally put the ball on a line and looked like he handed you the ball on the right spot to kick it which had no choice but to score 😂 granted in today's game he probably would play inside more but he had the range of passing to be deadly

[@evlee1295]

would've really been his successor if he really did date Dua Lipa 🤣

[@QuotidianStupidity]

He’d probably be a wing back like Trent or under lapping like Porro

[@iblaze1085]

He's more similar to De Bruyne then Trent

[@QuotidianStupidity]

@@iblaze1085 I think he had more running in him than De Bruyne, but yeh I think in todays game he’d be considered that level. Imo Trent is at that level also, but Liverpool and England are trying to work out how to accommodate such a talent

[@23minutesof]

​@@iblaze1085I think Scholes is more like KDB

[@funkrates4778]

The three players I've ever seen with the ability to eliminate an opposing defense (half a team really) by the most beautiful passes were Beckham, Pirlo and Riquelme. Those three were the most amazing playmakers I've ever seen.

[@JustSomeObject]

paul scholes left the chat

[@funkrates4778]

@@JustSomeObject yeah. I probably should have mentioned him too.

[@JJDoggett]

Don’t forget Xabi Alonso!

[@sEaNoYeAh]

Beckham was genuinely great. World class. Not an all time world great, not one of the absolute best, best players in the world, but a legitimately great player. Crucially, world class with the deadball, and quite possibly the greatest crosser of the ball in the history of football. Also his all around game allowed him to play centrally later in his career, and for England there was a period when he was the complete captain: inspirational player, leadership figure, and the coach's voice on the pitch.

[@demonmonsterdave]

He was a god in the England game against Greece. Much as I was against him due to his popularity and being a Liverpool fan myself, I cannot tell a lie. I've never seen effort, heart and skill like that since, so you can shut up.

[@bagpussmacfarlan9008]

I came looking for a Greece comment...to have a whole video about Beckham and not mention that game. Agree totally, the single best performance I've seen by anyone ever...it was basically him on the pitch and 10 others making up the numbers.

[@wodewick72]

I always remember that Beckham did the most km run and that was every season in the premiership. He was phenomenal in work rate. Ferguson just didn't like how big his name got. Great passer and crosser of a ball but not a flare dribbler player like Ronaldos or Figos did.

[@frankjaeger393]

Beckham had pace, could dribble past his man, play through the middle, score outrageous goals, high workrate, tackled, defended, best crosser probably ever, deadly on the deadball, had real drive and a winners determination.

[@DrSmoke13]

I feel that Michael Carrick was overlooked similarly, A different type of player but I’m fairly certain I recall that every time he came off the pitch he’d covered significantly the highest distance with fantastic passing and interception stats but wasn’t the blood and thunder idealised midfielder of the premier league.

[@dddgtsd]

I think over the years Carrick has come to be appreciated more maybe still a bit underrated but most United fans say he was key to their success in those years he played. Just gutted he never came and played for his hometown club (my team), always linked with him when he was West Ham/Spurs but we missed the boat. Great player.

[@27hiddenintheleaves]

he was brilliant,Carrick disrespect is crazy

[@rubbersoul4960]

If you have played for Man Utd and Real Madrid, you were a top player.

[@offsidev6059]

People who are too young to remember or simply didn't watch him regularly often talk about Beckham like he was some male version of Kournikova and like he was only popular for his looks and a relationship with a pop star. The guy was an absolutely amazing player, especially during his Real Madrid time. As a Liverpool fan, he is one of the very few United players that I always liked.

[@WAProdthejohman]

His dribbling was underrated aswell, nothing outrageous but a bit above average for that era, in today's era would be more than enough to make him earn a 100+ million contract

[@reallymakesyouthink]

George Best said this about Beckham, “He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn’t score many goals. Apart from that, he’s all right.”

[@chewmichael9133]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Beckham might not be able to beat 3 or 4 men before scoring but I’m also pretty sure Best could not cross, assist or score a free kick like Beckham which in my humble opinion, is actually a more effective way of play to help your team.

[@Chengyuan79]

@@chewmichael9133 George Best the legend was/is praising Beckham, my dear. George Best is, well, George Best. 😅

[@marioaf85]

He was better. His career kind of lost focus of football for a bit but I remember very well how good he was. Super precise right foot, intelligent player, one of the best crossers the game has ever seen

[@brunaciompi1717]

He was a great footballer but he was misprofiled and his career was overrated perhaps as a way to compensate for him being underestimated. He just was not an all the timer

[@neilcvernon6957]

Scored a Header on his Home debut at madrid ...Golden balls is a legend

[@CoverBydAn]

No one before, and after, has the lethal combo of his intelligence, stamina, vision, crossing, long shots, and technique on the ball. Not james ward prowse, not kevin de bruyne. His skill set means he can play consistently well until he is in his mid 30’s, because except for stamina, everything else improved with age. Because he made it look easy, ppl think his shots and crosses and diagonal balls into the path of runners were easy to do. But if you play soccer you’ll know being accurate with the ball at any direction or distance almost 100 pct of the time is superhuman

[@MichaelAMVM]

The Beckham wide midfielder role plus Giggs an actual winger on the opposite flank was common practice in England since the '70s. Previously in '66 Engand won the world cup with 2 wide midfielders. Only kick and rush teams had 2 out and out wingers.

[@abhijiththampi]

One of my favourite videos on youtube is a compilation of 50 greatest passes of Beckham.

[@christophernicholascarter6865]

I’m a massive Southampton fan. I love James Ward-Prowse. But calling David Beckham a glorified JWP is a massive insult to his skill and ability.

[@The_Mighty_Wyn]

Absolutely love it!! Hate Manure but Becks was soooo! underrated. His workrate was phenomenal.

[@DornAndGrant]

Not a football fan, largely cos other interests take up time. But I watched beckhams career in England matches with my 10 year old son. Even to me it was a marvel to watch how his intelligence was so good he could see how to mess up a defence just by hitting the ball into the right space.

[@thundergodkunai2113]

First video I’ve seen of yours. Love the info, graphics, energy, personality. Immediately subscribed, will be binging your back catalogue ❤

[@FourFourTwo]

🤝🏻

[@banyakakal4299]

Not to mention his humbleness. When he had a spat with Fergie who kicked a boot at him, in later years interview he admitted that he somewhat provoke it and played into it. That's why they still remain good relationships.

[@bcwibowo]

I was never really watch football, only big events like world cup. until one day i saw beckham had a free kick, totally blew my mind, made me an avid football ffans, manunited fans ,a football fans in general ,and ofcourse his fans up until now!

[@StamfordBridge]

I’ve been watching football for half a century and Beckham was the best crosser of the ball I’ve ever seen.

[@matthewbrock8238]

His ability looks even more obscene in hindsight, in the sense that nowdays a lot of players struggle to actually strike a ball as the game has developed a higher emphasis on tight control and short passing. I still think out of the golden generation that Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard had a more rounded world class skillset, but Beckham is right up there for sure. If he’d have come along 10 years later and spent his career as a deep lying playmaker he probably would be more respected - it’s a sexier role than standing on the touchline whipping in incessant crosses.

[@Chengyuan79]

Scholes. Please mention Scholes. 😅 And, ermm, Michael Owens too. One of the best before his first major injury.

[@mosalacommodore6993]

Whoa Adam Clearly has a football channel?? Hell yeah! I'm here for it.

[@sld1776]

Bruh. James Ward-Prowse is quite good looking. No homo.

[@inkoctopui3787]

he had great technique so yeah he was. he was world class enough to warrant all those transfers and stuff to big teams.