大象传媒

1996/97 Wimbledon 0-3 Manchester United

David Beckham 鈥� global superstar, style icon, UN ambassador, a marketeer鈥檚 dream. But could it have been so different were it not for a piece of opportunism at Selhurst Park in August 1996?

In the 90th minute, with Manchester United cruising to a win against the Dons, Beckham received the ball just inside his own half. He looked up, saw goalkeeper Neil Sullivan off his line, and the rest, well, is history.

As he shaped to shoot his decision wasn鈥檛 altogether popular with his teammates.
鈥淚 just thought, you cocky so-and-so鈥�, Gary Pallister recalls. 鈥淏ut then I was ecstatic for the lad鈥�it was no fluke, he practiced, practiced, practiced. 鈥�

Three weeks later Beckham made his England debut, in no small part thanks to his effort that day.