against Moldova. That season brought another Premiership medal, but in 1998 Arsenal took the title back as Beckham headed for the World Cup in France. A bad year was about to get a whole lot worse. After being left out of the starting line-up for England’s first two matches, he then scored a stunning free-kick against Colombia and was hailed a national hero. It wasn’t to last. Facing Argentina in the second round, he was sent off for a foul on Diego Simeone and ten-man England were knocked out.

Mocked by the press and vilified by fans across the country, he was welcomed back into the arms of the United family. Beckham

responded by scoring a trademark free-kick against Leicester City in the first League game of the 1998/99 season, and went on to enjoy a campaign that would have been beyond his - or any other Red’s - wildest dreams... the Treble.

The following season brought his fourth Premiership winner's medal and Beckham was voted second best player in Europe and the World - Rivaldo of Barcelona and Brazil pipping him to both awards. 2000/01 was another Premiership-winning season and having been handed the England captaincy he almost single-handedly booked his country’s place in the 2002 World Cup finals with an incredible matchwinning