Declan Rice Left in Awe by David Beckham's Private Message
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has admitted he was left utterly stunned after receiving a private message from football legend David Beckham. The communication came in the wake of Rice's remarkable free-kick exploits against Real Madrid during last season's Champions League campaign.
Career-Defining Moments Against Real Madrid
Rice produced what many consider career-best performances when he scored two spectacular free-kicks to help Arsenal dump out Real Madrid, the then-European champions, with a 5-1 aggregate victory. The wins at both the Emirates Stadium and the Bernabeu were pivotal, but it was the match in north London that truly showcased Rice's set-piece brilliance.
His first effort demonstrated incredible whip as it curved around the defensive wall, leaving goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois helpless. The second was a powerful strike that thundered into the top corner, sealing a historic night for the Gunners.
Beckham's Iconic Influence and Message
David Beckham, widely regarded as one of the finest English free-kick takers of the modern era and still holding Premier League records, reached out to Rice via Instagram. In an interview with The Sun, Rice expressed his disbelief, stating, "He messaged me on Instagram about it. That was crazy, because he had some of the biggest moments ever with free-kicks."
Rice recalled his first encounter with Beckham in Qatar, where he and other players were in awe, describing him as "a god" due to his iconic status. He reflected on Beckham's influence, noting, "I remember the first time I met Beckham was in Qatar. We all approached him. Every player was like, he was a god, you know, because it's Becks."
Rice's Free-Kick Philosophy and Instinct
Discussing his approach to set-pieces, Rice emphasized the role of instinct and feel. He explained, "When I put the ball down [for a set piece], it's just all about feel. It's knowing where you're going to put the ball, how much pace you're going to put on it. People might go: 'How do you know that?' You've got to go off instinct."
He added that free-kicks have become a significant strength for Arsenal this season, contributing to their success. "I know it can cause chaos, but it's one of our strengths. Let's keep it going because it's been really good for us this year," Rice remarked.
Historic Night and Personal Milestone
Incredibly, Rice had never scored a free-kick in his professional career before those two magical moments against Real Madrid. After the game, he admitted to being speechless, telling Amazon Prime, "I don't know whether it will ever sink in. I've gone back to my phone then and it's gone crazy. To score my first free-kick in a game is a special one. And then when I got the second one... I just had the confidence. I'm speechless really. I don't think it's going to hit me, what I've done tonight. It's a historic night."
Childhood Idol and Iconic Shirt
Rice has previously revealed that Beckham, particularly during his time at Real Madrid, was his idol growing up. He shared, "This [Beckham, 23] was my favourite shirt as a kid, I remember going on holiday with my brothers and my family and non-stop wearing this shirt. It's iconic, with Becks on the back."
He added, "Probably my favourite kit of all time. So many good players, obviously Becks was the icon, to have this shirt and to have his name on the back was a dream as a kid." This personal connection made Beckham's message all the more meaningful for the Arsenal star.
