What Happened to David Beckham During the England vs. Argentina World Cup Match in 1998?

David Beckham may have retired from football in 2013, but he’s still one of the most famous athletes on the planet.

His rise from Manchester United youngster to global superstar is documented in the 2023 Netflix series. Beckhamfeaturing never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews with Beckham, his family and teammates.

The documentary also delves into one of Beckham’s most important points in his career: his controversial red card during the 1998 World Cup. The moment came in the round of 16, when England played Argentina. With the score 2-2, Beckham received a red card for pushing an opposing player, and England lost the game on penalties.

England were eliminated from the competition as a result, and Beckham faced a severe backlash at home. Although he went on to become one of the greatest footballers of his generation, playing for the likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan and the LA Galaxy, his red card – and its aftermath – is still an event that lives long in the memory.

Here’s everything you need to know about what happened to David Beckham during England’s 1998 World Cup match against Argentina and the impact it had on the football legend in the decades since.

England and Argentina have had a football rivalry for decades

David Beckham battles Diego Simeone for the ball during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

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Despite being on different continents, the England and Argentina football teams have had a great rivalry for decades.

The rivalry first began in 1966, when the two teams met in the quarter-finals of the World Cup and England won 1-0. However, the match has been synchronized in the meantime el robo del sigloor the “steal of the century” in Argentina, as the Argentine captain was sent off and England’s only goal scored by striker Geoff Hurst may have been offside.

Then the teams met in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup — four years after the countries fought the Falklands War — in which Argentina’s Diego Maradona famously scored a handball into the goal before scoring again with a goal often regarded as one of the best in of football history.

Victoria told David she was pregnant with Brooklyn the night before the 1998 game

David and Victoria Beckham at a party at the Versace store in London in 1999.

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In the Netflix documentary from 2023 Beckhamthe athlete’s now-wife Victoria Beckham spoke about the infamous match and revealed that she told David the night before the game that she was pregnant with the couple’s eldest child, Brooklyn.

Victoria explained that David wanted to leave to be with her after hearing the news, but he couldn’t. She said: “I told David the night before the game. He was so, so happy, we both were, and I never doubted that I should tell him. I mean, that’s what we wanted and he couldn’t have been happier.”

Beckham received a red card for hitting a player

Kim Milton Nielsen shows a red card to England’s David Beckham during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

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When England and Argentina met in the round of 16 at the 1998 World Cup, Beckham was shown a red card in a 2-2 draw and subsequently sent off. Argentina’s Diego Simeone first fouled Beckham, and when Simeone stood up, he rubbed his knuckles against the back of Beckham’s head as the British star lay face down.

In response, Beckham – who was still on the ground – swung his leg at Simeone, who then fell. Referee Kim Milton Nielsen gave Beckham a red card.

England lost the game on penalties

Diego Simeone falls under a challenge from David Seaman to win a penalty during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

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After Beckham was sent off, England were forced to play with 10 men for the rest of the game against Argentina’s 11. With moments remaining, England thought they had scored through defender Sol Campbell, but Nielson blew the whistle as England’s Alan Shearer was fouled Argentinian goalkeeper Carlos Ro before the goal, so the goal did not count.

Since it was a draw, it went to extra time and penalties. Argentina won the penalty shootout 4–3 after Roa saved two England penalty kicks, knocking England out of the World Cup.

After the game, Beckham faced a harsh reaction from the fans and the English media

David Beckham after the English team’s return from the 1998 World Cup.

EPA/Shutterstock

After the game and England’s elimination from the tournament, Beckham faced heavy criticism. Title from Daily Mirror described the team as “10 heroic lions, one stupid boy”, and the publication even published a dart board with Beckham’s face in the July issue. According to the BBC, Daily mail called Beckham’s action “madness” in the headline, while Sun said it was a “moment of madness”.

Meanwhile, Beckham received death threats from fans and an effigy of Beckham was hanged outside a pub in London. When he returned to football with Manchester United after the World Cup, team manager Sir Alex Ferguson was pelted with stones and beer glasses as fans chanted: “We hate Beckham” and “You’ve failed your country”, according to Daily Express.

He said he felt let down by his teammates

Paul Scholes, Darren Anderton, David Beckham, Alan Shearer, Paul Ince during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

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Speaking to his former England and Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville, who also played in the match against Argentina, on his podcast Overlap 2022 Beckham said he felt let down by his England team-mates not backing him after the red card.

He said: “It’s probably harsh to say that I still feel let down by it. I look back at that moment, and we were young. Yes, I made a mistake, but there are certain people in teams and in football that you expect to support you no matter what.”

However, Ferguson was one of the first people to offer his support. Beckham told Neville: “The morning after, [Ferguson] he called me early in the morning and said, ‘Are you okay son?’ I said yes, and I think I became emotional towards him too. And he just said, ‘Don’t worry, go for a few weeks… come back to the club, and you’ve got us.’ That was all I needed to hear.”

Simeone later admitted that Beckham barely touched him on the pitch

Diego Simeone reacts to David Beckham being sent off after a challenge during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

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In an interview with S. in 2002 Observer Sport monthlyper Guard, Simeone said he deliberately tried to send Beckham off. He admitted: “I caught him and we both fell to the ground. As I tried to get up, he hit me from behind. And I used that. And I think every person would use it in the same way.”

The Argentinian player continued, “Unfortunately for the English team they lost a player that time. In any case, you take advantage of all the opportunities you find in your life.”

England and Beckham got their revenge four years later

David Beckham celebrates after winning the 1st round match between Argentina and England during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

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While England and Argentina played each other in a 0-0 friendly in 2000, the two teams met in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup with Beckham captaining England.

Beckham eventually scored the only goal for England during the penalty shootout, and the team won 1–0. As a result, Argentina was eliminated from the tournament. Beckham redeemed himself in the eyes of many fans after scoring the winning goal, with Time writing the next day that the soccer star “awakens with his halo brighter than ever.”

Beckham was candid about the impact the incident had on him

David Beckham before the 1998 UEFA Champions League Group D match.

Etsuo Hara/Getty

In the years since the controversial game, Beckham has discussed the toll the moment and its aftermath took on him. During a chat with Prince William about mental health in July 2020, the footballer said: “I made a mistake in ’98 and the reaction was pretty brutal then.”

He continued: “But I was lucky, I had a support system within Manchester United, the manager and obviously my family. But at the time did I feel it was OK to go to someone and say I needed help? No, because it was a different era , and I just felt like I had to hold it all in and deal with it myself. Whereas now, I’m the one preaching to my kids and other kids that I talk to out there that it’s really important to talk.”

Beckham and Simeone redeemed themselves

Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty

In 2002, after Beckham scored the goal to knock Argentina out of the World Cup four years after his red card, he said he had buried the hatchet with Simeone. Sky Sports reported that Beckham said Simeone tried to send him off before scoring the penalty, but that Simeone acted like a “gentleman” at half-time and shook his hand after the game. Beckham said the two have “mutual respect” for each other, with neither holding a grudge.

20 years later, Argentina won the World Cup. Although both Beckham and Simeone are long retired, the British soccer star reportedly posted a photo of him and Simeone on his Instagram Story, according to TalkSport. Along with the photo, he wrote: “Congratulations my friend.”

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Source: HIS Education