Best of Beckham

The script was supposed to end with the midfield maestro coming off the substitutes' bench to score the winning goal in this summer's World Cup final.

Unfortunately, it took no account of how the cruel twist of fate that can end the career of sportsmen at a whim. It was not a reckless tackle that has sidelined this national treasure in an innocuous manner; the player just pulled up in agony and his tears were sufficient to reveal the extent of his ruptured tendon.

Throughout his illustrious career, Beckham has always attracted

controversy. The Beckham "brand" has also attracted much jealousy – and mirth.

Yet the player's critics should remember this. David Beckham has only enjoyed so much success – both on the pitch and as a commercial entity –through hard work.

As a young boy, all he wanted to do was play football. And, when Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson nurtured the working class youngster, and encouraged him to bend it like Beckham before the film-makers had even heard of this prodigy, he simply wanted to be the best.

What is so wrong with that?