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When looking at the Beckham phenomenon, it is most important to look at the quality of the football player only. Beckham, as a footballer, has proved himself to be a considerable asset to both club and country.

His prodigious talent was apparent fairly soon. When he joined the Manchester Utd youth academy he became one of the most prominent players. In 1995 he began to break through into the Utd first team ranks and helped them to the double.

In 1996, he struck one of the best Premiership goals ever seen against Wimbledon. From the halfway line he chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. Comparisons with Pele would soon follow. Alas, for the rest of that season he was a first-team regular and picked up his first Premiership winners medal.

On the international stage, Beckham was winning his first caps for England and becoming a first team regular. With England qualifying for the 1998 World Cup, Beckham would get his first chance on football's biggest stage. He mixed it with brilliance and controversy. Against Columbia, he scored an excellent free kick that would see England through to the 2nd round against Argentina. And then, when playing the Argentines he was duly sent of for a clip on Simeone.

Still, the mixed World Cup undoubtedly highlighted his pedigree. His best ever domestic season would soon follow with the FA-Cup, Premiership and Champions League triple. Again, he was a key component of the Utd midfield, and scored important goals against the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona. Alas, more medals would follow with two more Premiership titles.

With England, under new management, he would really begin to flourish. Sven nominated Beckham with his first captaincy. And he delivered the goods once more by scoring a crucial late goal against Greece to see England qualify for the 2002 World Cup. At that tournament, he scored a penalty against Argentina, which would ultimately eliminate them and see England through to the next stage.

He won his last winners medal with Utd in 2003 before Real Madrid began expressing an interest. This held sway and he was sold for 30 million. Alas, closing the love affair with his former club.

If anything, the move to Real Madrid ensured he would still be in good playing company. With Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo and co they were the Spanish League Champions and had a formidable squad of players. In truth, in such a squad and without the history he had with Utd, his place in the first team was not such a formality.

After some trophy-less

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