Unveiling the Untold: Exclusive Insights Missing from Netflix's David Beckham Documentary

Summary

Beckham

The emphasis is on David Beckham's personal relationships and on-field accomplishments, highlighting his relationship with Victoria, while excluding significant individuals like his sisters and certain teammates.

Unfortunately, the documentary overlooks Beckham's sporting rivals, thus failing to present a comprehensive overview of his career.

The Netflix documentary Beckham extensively explores the personal life of the renowned global superstar, but fails to thoroughly explore certain significant aspects of his journey. While the miniseries traces David Beckham's remarkable transition from a gifted young individual to one of the most celebrated and accomplished soccer players in history, it neglects to delve deeper into his early struggles with Inter Miami and his controversial endorsement of the Qatar World Cup. The documentary instead presents a captivating narrative of Beckham's upbringing amidst incessant media attention, with paparazzi tracking his every move and newspapers spotlighting his latest haircuts on their front pages. Throughout it all, Beckham finds solace in his enduring relationship with his wife Victoria, herself a prominent figure in the global spotlight. Distinctive from other notable sports documentaries, Beckham places equal emphasis on exploring their marriage alongside Beckham's remarkable on-field achievements.

The deeply personal nature of Beckham gives the impression that the couple is baring it all for the world to see, yet there remain numerous unanswered questions surrounding Beckham's extensively publicized life. Given the limited scope of the four available episodes on Netflix, certain details had to be omitted while examining one of the most extensively chronicled figures in British cultural history. It is understandable that the documentary aimed to present Beckham in a positive light, hence the deliberate exclusions from his life story. However, some of these omissions may come as a surprise.

10 David Beckham's Two Sisters

David Beckham's Netflix documentary prominently features his mother and father, while his sisters only make background appearances in home video footage. Surprisingly, no mention or interviews are given to Beckham's sisters, despite their significance in his life. Being the middle child, Beckham's sisters could have offered unique insights into how his upbringing shaped him into one of the world's greatest athletes. However, the documentary briefly touches on his youth, possibly limiting the opportunity for a thorough exploration of the Beckham household.

9 Some Of Beckham's Greatest Teammates

8 David Beckham's Absence From The 2010 World Cup

Beckham showcases an exceptional lineup of world-class soccer players, ranging from his fellow countrymen at Manchester United to several of Real Madrid's renowned "Galacticos." Numerous players who were not interviewed could have offered a slightly different perspective. According to Beckham, he felt lonely when he first joined Real Madrid, yet he fails to mention the club's only other English player at the time, Steve McManaman. It would have also been intriguing to explore how English players who had only a brief period of time with Beckham, such as the captain during the 1998 World Cup, Alan Shearer, perceived him.

In order to boost his chances of being selected for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Beckham made the decision to join AC Milan. However, the timeline surrounding his move is somewhat unclear. Beckham had two loan spells at Milan, first in 2009 and then again in 2010. After just two months into his initial loan, Beckham's agreement was renegotiated to allow him to extend his time in Italy. During his time with the club, he experienced some success. Despite performing well in the lead-up to the World Cup, Beckham suffered a left Achilles tendon injury, which ultimately prevented him from participating in the tournament. Regrettably, this injury marked the end of his international career as he never had the opportunity to represent England again.

7 David Beckham's Sporting Rivals

Except for Argentine coach Diego Simeone, none of Beckham's former rivals are given a speaking role in the documentary Beckham. During his successful tenure at Manchester United, Beckham faced fierce competition from Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle United. Including interviews with some of the notable players from these teams would have provided a more comprehensive portrayal of Beckham's talent and influence on the field. While Beckham primarily focuses on his personal relationships and the media attention he garnered, it is worth acknowledging the absence of some remarkable soccer personalities from his career timeline. Perhaps gaining insight from one of the left-backs who was tasked with marking Beckham could have offered a fresh perspective on his playing style.

6 Inter Miami's Tough Beginnings

The conception of Beckham's Major League Soccer franchise is highlighted in the final episode, yet much of the struggle to establish the team is overlooked. The team's launch was repeatedly delayed as they faced challenges in finding a suitable stadium and securing funding. Even after the team commenced playing, their performances failed to impress fans. Their difficulties continued off the field when certain members of the club's hierarchy were disciplined for breaking the league's spending regulations. Even with Lionel Messi joining in the summer of 2023, Inter Miami remained one of the weakest teams in the MLS. However, they have shown improvement since then, and in August, they managed to secure their first trophy.

5 David Beckham's Controversial Support For The Qatar World Cup

Everything surrounding FIFA's choice to grant Qatar the hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup was intertwined with controversy. The bidding process itself was marred by allegations of bribery and corruption, casting a dark shadow over the world of soccer. Once the decision was finalized, attention swiftly turned to the purported history of human rights abuses in Qatar. This raised significant doubts regarding whether the nation deserved the honor and privilege of hosting the most prestigious global sporting event. During this period, Beckham faced substantial criticism for his association with the Qatar World Cup as an ambassador, utilizing his far-reaching influence to promote the country's cause.

4 David Beckham's Rift With His Father

Ted Beckham emerges as a captivating figure within the realm of Beckham. As a father, he persistently propelled David to unleash his full potential, despite his wife's belief that he often demanded too much from their son. In 2002, Ted divorced Sandra, David's mother, and soon after published an autobiography, in which he highlighted David's fame as one of the factors that strained their marriage. According to Ted, the relentless media scrutiny placed an excessive burden on the couple. Tensions peaked in 2003 when Ted opposed David's move to Real Madrid. For a period, the only means of communication between them was through their respective lawyers. Fortunately, David and Ted have subsequently managed to mend their relationship.

3 The Broken Metatarsal Which Threatened His World Cup Hopes

2 David Beckham's Foray Into Hollywood Movies

Leading up to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, England fans carried a glimmer of hope for a fresh era to put an end to the long streak of disappointments that had plagued them since 1966. The nation's aspirations rested heavily on the shoulders of David Beckham, yet just before the tournament, he suffered a fracture in the second metatarsal of his left foot during a Champions League match for Manchester United. A tense couple of months followed as England faced the daunting possibility of competing without their star player. In the end, Beckham took to the World Cup field despite not being fully recovered, and England's journey was cut short by Brazil. As of today, the 1966 World Cup remains the only major trophy in England's history.

Beckham's rise to fame brought about shocking media attention for his family. Achieving a level of global stardom usually limited to Hollywood actors, David and Victoria Beckham experienced relentless pursuit by the press. Coincidentally, his American team being based in Los Angeles matched Beckham's appearances in high-budget films. Notably, he featured in Goal! and Goal II: Living The Dream, mirroring the journey of a fictional football player ascending to success, much like Beckham himself. Additionally, his friendship with director Guy Ritchie led to cameo roles in two of his films, and he even portrayed himself in Deadpool 2.

1 Rebecca Loos Is Never Directly Mentioned

The documentary references the rumored affair between David Beckham and his ex-personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, without explicitly mentioning her name. Its focus lies on David and Victoria's reactions to the alleged infidelity, rather than showcasing Loos' perspective on the matter. During that period, the British media extensively covered the story, with journalists taking opposing sides by portraying Beckham as a cheater or Loos as a liar. By potentially avoiding excessive details, the director Fisher Stevens aimed to refrain from fueling public controversy and instead shed light on the emotions experienced by the individuals involved in private.