David Beckham has made his thoughts clear on Diego Simeone after England vs Argentina controversy.

What happened?

In 1998, David Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone in Saint-Etienne, contributing to England's World Cup exit. The incident has had a lasting impact on Beckham's career and personal life.

Why it matters for David Beckham

Beckham has spoken publicly about the red card, admitting he still thinks about it long after retiring. He has also reflected on the extreme attention he received, saying it brought a lot of attention that he would never wish on anyone.

What comes next?

Fast forward to 2022, when Argentina won the World Cup final. Beckham shared a photo of the pair together with the caption "Congratulations my friend." Simeone re-posted the photo, adding his own caption: "Good to see you always!"

The bond between Beckham and Simeone appears strong, despite their past rivalry. They have both been in attendance at their countries' matches, and Beckham has even shared a photo of the pair together on Instagram.

Beckham has strong Argentina connections through his Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami. World Cup stars Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul both play for the club, while 2014 World Cup finalist Gonzalo Higuain previously spent time on their books.

Argentina played their round of 32 match with Cape Verde in Miami, and Beckham was joined by Simeone at the match. "Bumped into an old friend in Miami... @simeone," the former England star wrote while sharing a photo of the pair together on Instagram.

Simeone also featured in Beckham's documentary for Netflix, which was released in 2023. The Englishman also shared his own reflections on the red card, admitting he still thought about it long after retiring.

"I made a stupid mistake. It changed my life. I felt very vulnerable and alone," he said. "I don't think I have ever talked about it just because I can't. I find it hard to talk through what I went through because it was so extreme. The whole country hated me. Hated me."

He added: "I wasn't eating. I wasn't sleeping. I was a mess. I didn't know what to do."

"It brought a lot of attention that I would never wish on anyone, let alone my parents," he adds. "I can't forgive myself for that. That's the tough part what happened in a way. I was the one that made the mistake. It is only now I beat myself up about it."

category: player_focus