The 1998 World Cup infamously changed the course of David Beckham‘s career. Beckham’s red card, followed by England’s elimination at the hands of Argentina, marked a turning point and thrust him into the spotlight as a public enemy in England. However, following his recent documentary release, David Beckham shed new light on that incident and even expressed gratitude towards the man who forced the red card, Diego Simeone.

It was Diego Simeone, the coach of Atletico Madrid, who Beckham kicked in the back, resulting in his sending-off. Now, 25 years later, through Beckham’s Netflix documentary ‘Beckham,’ fans have the opportunity to delve deep into this incident, as well as hear Simeone’s side of the story.

David Beckham sends his gratitude to Dieofo Simeone

The 4-episode documentary series chronicles various significant moments in Beckham’s life including the 1998 World Cup. Following the successful release of the documentary Beckham shared a picture on his Instagram account reflecting on one of the most influential moments of his life. He captioned the post, “A moment that changed my life…”

The Inter Miami owner further added, “The range of emotions filming this documentary has been unbelievable, so much has happened in my career, and not all good. 98 was a tough period for me, but I had the right people around me”. What really caught the attention of many was Beckham’s expression of gratitude towards Simeone.

“I want to thank Diego Simeone for contributing to my documentary and sharing his side of the story,” Becks concluded. In the documentary, Simeone shared his perspective on the incident, admitting that he believed Beckham didn’t deserve the red card. He also revealed how he exaggerated the impact of the kick.

Even the director of the documentary remarked on Simeone’s ability to convincingly fake the effects of the kick and even suggested he should try acting. This is an unexpected turn of events, with Beckham thanking Simeone. It is clear Beckham does not harbor any ill feelings towards the now-manager, despite what he had to go through in facing the fury of fans. In fact, he recently spoke candidly about the intense backlash he faced due to the incident.

Dive Deeper: “They Just Blamed Him” – After Mistreating Son David Beckham, Ex-Coach on ‘Hit List’ of 74YO Mum Over World Cup Controversy

David Beckham’s lowest point came after the 1998 World Cup incident

During an interview on the ‘Stick To Football’ show, David Beckham opened up about the most challenging period in his career. Unsurprisingly this occurred after the 1998 World Cup incident. The 48-year-old shared a shocking revelation, stating, “I suppose it was more than just about the football in the end. I think that was the tough part, you know”.

He further added, “I had people at the doorstep of my grandparents’ house. And when I would go out for dinner, people would spit at me… or punch windows when they saw it was me at the light when I was in London”. In another distressing encounter, a paparazzi confronted him and labeled Beckham as a “disgrace”. This truly marks one of the lowest points in David Beckham’s illustrious career.

Watch This Story: Soccer Icon David Beckham Teases Dwayne Johnson’s $3.5 Billion Teremana As He Enjoys a Few Drinks in Miami

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.