David Beckham has been known for his looks since his professional career. Even now, at the age of 48, Beckham is aging like a fine wine for many. However, British magazine ‘FourFourTwo’ predicted the polar opposite for Beckham back in 1998.
25 years ago, ‘FourFourTwo’ used Photoshop to generate a mockup of how the former English midfielder would look in the 2020s. They predicted him to have a receding hairline, missing teeth, and wrinkled skin.
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In the prediction, the magazine wrote about the midfielder: “Things went distinctly pear-shaped for the Man United starlet after his club missed out on the 1998 championship and he lost his entire personal fortune in the Brylcreem crash of 2005. Now well into his forties, he is reduced to appearing for England veterans’ teams alongside his fellow Fergie fledglings and reminiscing wistfully about his glory days”.
The Inter Miami Co-Owner has proved the magazine wrong by staying in shape, having a head full of hair, and keeping his full set of teeth. The Manchester United legend still attracts a lot of attention for his looks and style. The case is evident, as he is still a marketable option for many brands in a fashion that couldn’t be possible without his looks.
British media’s onslaught on David Beckham in 1998 after World Cup
The prediction from ‘FourFourTwo’ came in 1998, one of the toughest years of David Beckham’s professional career. Back in 1998, David Beckham was sent off during the Round of 16 match against Argentina in the tournament.
Argentina eliminated England on penalties, and fans blamed Beckham’s red card as a crucial moment. In the following season, the abuse against the player reached its limits when an effigy of Beckham was hung outside a pub.
David Beckham receives a red card against Argentina during France ’98. pic.twitter.com/7kkN1OYRRT
— 90s Football (@90sfootball) June 3, 2015
During Manchester United’s first away game the next season, at West Ham, the team bus was bombarded with stones and pint glasses. The toll of abuse clinically depressed the former Manchester United star. Victoria Beckham, wife of David Beckham, confirmed that David was depressed after the abuse from the media and fans. She talked about the incident in the latest Netflix documentary titled Beckham.
David Beckham was one of the biggest names in the world back in 1998 due to his fame off and on the field. The controversial red card led to some of the harshest media onslaughts a player has ever faced in England. Beckham deserves respect for rising above the hate and the media onslaught to lead the country as captain in the 2002 World Cup.
In 2023, after decades of controversies and a media onslaught, Beckham must be happy to prove the ‘FourFourTwo’ magazine wrong about his looks and image.