A 23-year-old Beckham was very much the main man in Glenn Hoddle’s side after he enjoyed a storming group stage. However, he was targeted by the South American giants in the first knockout game.
When the midfielder kicked out at Diego Simeone, the referee showed Beckham a straight red card. The Three Lions were eventually knocked out by their arch-rivals on penalties.
Speaking to Gary Neville on the Overlap YouTube channel, the future England captain admitted he couldn’t hold back the tears following the game. He claimed:
Beckham admitted that it was a moment of regret for him and said:
He added:
David Beckham’s inspirational story of World Cup redemption for England
The then-Manchester United midfielder suffered heaps of abuse following the red card on that infamous night in Saint-Étienne.
However, just three years later, Beckham was appointed England captain by Sven-Goran Eriksen. He led his side to an incredible 5-1 victory against Germany in a World Cup qualifier.
Beckham’s finest moment arguably came at Old Trafford when the Three Lions needed a draw against Greece, but found themselves 2-1 down. The set-piece specialist stepped up to score a beautiful free-kick in the last minute to secure England’s spot in the 2002 World Cup.
The legendary midfielder’s redemption was complete during his nation’s first clash at the tournament. His penalty against his old foes Argentina gave England a 1-0 victory.
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