David Beckham’s most memorable moments

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Here we take a look back at the roller coaster ride David Beckham took us on throughout his glittering career with Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and England.

There have been plenty of highs and lows along the way, with glorious goals, silly red cards, confrontations with fans and numerous trophies all encapsulated in his mercurial career.

Enjoy.

PHOTOS: The life and times of David Beckham

Scoring from the halfway line against Wimbledon

In his first full season with Manchester United, Beckham announced his arrival on the scene with a tremendous strike from inside his own half. Of course, spectacular goals were to become a benchmark of his career, but this was the first glorious strike that we all saw. On the first day of the 1996 Premier League season, Beckham picked up the ball just inside his own half and saw goalkeeper Neil Sullivan off his line. Audaciously, Beckham sent a long distance lob over Sullivan and into the net.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaSI2SiqNyA?rel=0&w=420&h=315%5D

Beckham sent off against Argentina in 1998 World Cup

David Beckham became public enemy number one in England after he was sent off for kicking out at Argentina’s Diego Simeone in the second half. The game was locked at 2-2, with the arch-rivals clashing all over the pitch. Beckham was dragged to the ground by Simeone but then inexcusably kicked out and was shown a straight red. England went on to lose 4-3 on penalties with the British media blaming Beckham for the Three Lions’ exit.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rsc-7TZ9T8?rel=0&w=420&h=315%5D

Beckham sends England to World Cup 2002

Beckham went from zero to hero, as his last-minute free kick against Greece sealed England’s qualification to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. With the Three Lions trailing 2-1 in the 93rd minute, Beckham stepped up to curl home a trademark free kick into the top corner and send the nation wild. His place as the national hero was restored.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2wpH09cOU4?rel=0&w=420&h=315%5D

Fall out with Fergie

Beckham’s time at his boyhood club Manchester United was all but over after a bizarre incident with Sir Alex Ferguson in a dressing room bust-up. After an FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, Ferguson kicked a soccer cleat across the room and it struck Beckham on the head, giving him a wound that required stitches. Five months later, Beckham left Old Trafford for good. He signed for Real Madrid.

Success…in the end, at Real Madrid

Beckham joined Real Madrid for £25million on July 1, 2003. He chose to wear the number 23 shirt, after his love for Michael Jordan. The Londoner had an up and down time in the Spanish capital but finished his career there on a high, after winning the La Liga title in his final game with Madrid. He spent four years in the Spanish capital and was determined to leave on a high note.

Move to MLS and the LA Galaxy

Beckham’s relationship with Madrid was going downhill rapidly and that continued when it was announced before the end of his final season there, that a move to the LA Galaxy had already been agreed. Beckham signed for LA for $6.5 million a year, but despite this the Galaxy actually earned more than their outlay with the merchandise and other spin offs that came from ‘brand Beckham.’ His first few years in LA proved to be a let down with his own fans confronting Beckham about his performances and why he extended his loan deal to AC Milan. Plenty of other incidents also marred his first years in MLS.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnJi_pEL_KU?rel=0&w=420&h=315%5D

100th cap for England

In 2008 David Beckham joined an elite-group of English soccer players by winning his 100th cap for the national team. He went on to make 115 appearances for England making him the second-highest capped player in English history behind goalkeeper Peter Shilton. He is the most capped outfield player in English history.

Goodbye LA, hello Paris

Beckham signed off his career in Major League Soccer by winning two-straight MLS Cups with the LA Galaxy. His storybook ending came at home against the Houston Dynamo, as LA won 3-1 in December 2012 to finish his time in MLS on a high. After much speculation and deliberation, Beckham decided to join Paris Saint-Germain for the remainder of the Ligue 1 season. He won the French League title with two games to go, becoming the only Englishman in history to win league titles in four different countries.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6c-COBkCqg?rel=0&w=420&h=315%5D

Manchester City vs Inter Milan: How to watch Champions League Final, odds, predictions

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Manchester City is on the chase for a historic treble and standing in the way is Inter Milan, one of Europe’s precious few clubs to claim such an honor.

[ LIVE: Manchester City vs Inter Milan ]

The Premier League winners three times running have an FA Cup under their belt after beating Manchester United on June 3 and the final jewel in their treble crown awaits with a win in Istanbul on June 10.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

Pep Guardiola could lead a second club to a treble after he did it with Barcelona in 2008-09, and they would give heated rivals United domestic company on the treble stage right down the road.

Guardiola says it’s now okay to talk about the treble. We agree, and we’ve laid out why the achievement is so special after the jump.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Manchester City vs Inter Milan.


How to watch Manchester City vs Inter Milan live, stream link and start time

Dates: 3pm ET June 10, 2023
Online: Live updates via NBCSports.com
How to watch: TUDN, Paramount+


What Premier League clubs have won the treble?

Manchester United won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in 1998-99.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils are the lone Premier League club to win it.

That’s it. For now.


How many times has the treble been won?

Nine times in history has a team won its domestic league, top domestic cup, and the European Cup.

Bayern Munich and Barcelona have each done it twice, with Bayern doing it in 2012-13 and 2019-20 and Barca pulling it off in 2008-09 and 2014-15.

Celtic was the first to win a treble, doing it in 1966-67, while Ajax was the next in 1971-72.

PSV Eindhoven then won it in 1987-88 before Man United made it happen 11 years later. Inter Milan is the only Italian team to pull it off, winning in 2009-10.

(UEFA.com)


Champions League Final odds (Betting odds provided by our partner, BetMGM )

BetMGM is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on BetMGM for the first time after clicking our links. 

Man City (-250) vs Inter Milan (+625) | Draw over 120 mins (+380)

Over 2.5 goals (-160). Under 2.5 goals (+110)


Champions League Final predictions

Joe Prince-Wright: Man City 2-1 Inter Milan
Andy Edwards: Man City 3-1 Inter Milan
Nick Mendola: Man City 2-0 Inter Milan


Manchester City team news, injuries, lineup options

QUESTIONABLE: None

Inter Milan team news, injuries, lineup options

QUESTIONABLE: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Joaquin Correa. OUT: Dalbert.

Lionel Messi rejects Saudi Arabia mega-offer, will sign with Inter Miami

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Lionel Messi will sign with Inter Miami, opting to move to MLS this summer rather than return to Barcelona or join Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante in Saudi Arabia, according to multiple reports.

[ MORE: UEFA Champions League final, Manchester City vs Inter Milan ]

The deal will reportedly include profit sharing with two of MLS’s biggest commercial partners, Apple and Adidas, alongside his playing contract. According to reports, it could also include an option to purchase a minority stake in the club, which is partially owned (and operated) by David Beckham, who signed a similarly unique deal when he joined MLS in 2007. Beckham’s contract gave him a $25-million option to purchase an expansion franchise, which he exercised in 2018.

Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain is set to expire on June 30 and the Ligue 1 club announced earlier this month that the Argentine superstar — widely considered the greatest player of all time — will leave the club this summer.

MORE: Five players to watch in the Premier League’s summer transfer window ]

Perhaps Inter Miami and MLS weren’t Messi’s first-choice option this summer, as his father previously stated his son’s desire to return to Barcelona, where he famously won 21 major trophies before an unceremonious exit amid financial troubles in the summer of 2021, but those issues still linger two years later. The offer from Saudi Arabia would have reportedly paid Messi, 35, $1.6 billion over three years.

Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who previously worked with Lionel Messi at Barcelona (2013-2014) and Argentina (2014-2016), is reportedly the leading candidate to replace the recently departed Phil Neville as head coach.

Inter Miami, who currently sit bottom (15th) of MLS’s Eastern Conference with 15 points from their first 16 games, parted ways with Neville last week. In his two full seasons in charge, Neville guided the club to regular-season finishes of 11th (of 14) and 6th (of 14) in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2022.

Follow @AndyEdMLS

UEFA Champions League Final: Key battles for Inter Milan vs Manchester City

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Manchester City’s quest for the treble hits its final obstacle when Inter Milan goes toe-to-toe with the Premier League and FA Cup champions in Istanbul at Saturday’s UEFA Champions League Final.

Pep Guardiola’s weren’t at their very best against Manchester United in the FA Cup Final and still walked away with its second trophy of the season.

But City’s final two Premier League matches saw dropped points. The stakes were non-existent and the team quite changed by Guardiola, who’s known to fancy a tactical wrinkle. How will things change this weekend?

[ MORE: Man City vs Inter Milan preview, watch info ]

It would be stunning if Inter boss Simone Inzaghi came out in anything but a 3-5-2, which has been his go-to formation for Inter Milan this season regardless of opponent.

But might Inzaghi have something up his sleeve?

Inter’s only losses in the Champions League came in the group stage versus Bayern Munich. Add in their setbacks in Serie A and there’s still been no standard recipe for beating Inter. There isn’t one for Man City, either, of course.

Kevin De Bruyne vs Marcelo Brozovic

If there’s a single player capable of messing with Pep Guardiola’s plan to control the game and get the ball to his creators in dangerous spots, it’s Croatian veteran Marcelo Brozovic. The 30-year-old is a force who can both be the club’s metronome and break up the opposition’s best attacks. There are few players in the world like De Bruyne, but he needs to be found in space and City needs the ball to do that. Brozovic can be a big part of limiting both of those things.

Erling Haaland vs Francesco Acerbi

Maybe the two names need to be switched in order, because Acerbi is going to have his hands full with Haaland. The question is whether the 35-year-old Acerbi, still very good but no longer in his prime, can use his nous and vast experience to limit Haaland’s chances to do the exceptional. Haaland, meanwhile, just has to be himself. Ask yourself who’s being asked more.

Andre Onana vs Man City’s attack

Picking one player, even Haaland or De Bruyne, for this battle is unfair to the exercise because let’s be real. There is no chance that Inter Milan wins this game without a supreme moment or two from its goalkeeper. Andre Onana has played every Champions League match for Inter and has had his fair share of outstanding performances. He’s outperformed expected goals on target by 6.7 goals over the course of the tournament.

How many times has a team won the treble? Man City goes for history

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There’s been a lot of treble talk these days, talk that’s found a new level of buzz since Manchester City moved within one win of joining the club.

It’s an elite club, by the way, of teams that have won their domestic league, top domestic cup, and the European Cup.

Nine times in history has a team won the treble, and only once has it been done by a Premier League club.

[ MORE: Recalling Zlatan’s “unicorn” career ]

That’s why Man City’s defeat of Manchester United earlier this month in the FA Cup Final rings so true for the Citizens; The blue side of Manchester would join the red side as treble supporters, as United won the treble in 1998-99.

Man City goes for the third jewel of its treble crown on Saturday versus Inter Milan in Istanbul when it kicks off the UEFA Champions League Final.

For more treble trivia, head below the jump.

How many times has the treble been won?

Bayern Munich and Barcelona have each done it twice, with Bayern doing it in 2012-13 and 2019-20 and Barca pulling it off in 2008-09 and 2014-15.

Celtic was the first to win a treble, doing it in 1966-67, while Ajax was the next in 1971-72.

PSV Eindhoven then won it in 1987-88 before Man United made it happen 11 years later. Inter Milan is the only Italian team to pull it off, winning in 2009-10.

(UEFA.com)