The title ‘world-class’ is a soccer player’s Everest. We reserve it for the elite few who reach the heights of skill, consistency, and impact. When Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary Manchester United manager, voted for this rare breed of stars, only four names clinched the coveted title: Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Eric Cantona, and Cristiano Ronaldo. A surprising absentee was David Beckham, a player who etched his name in the history books of Old Trafford. But even in the face of this perceived omission, Beckham’s response was a masterclass in humility.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s claims about world-class players stirred some controversy and debate. Despite the legendary manager leaving out some big names from his list, the English soccer player’s absence surprised everyone. Let’s dive deeper and hear the English player’s classy response to his snub.

David Beckham embraces Sir Alex Ferguson’s judgment

David Beckham, the ‘Golden Boy’ with his pin-point crosses and curling free-kicks, seemed an indisputable contender for the title. His dazzling talent on the pitch had captivated millions across the world. So, when Ferguson snubbed Beckham on his list of top players in his book, ‘Leading,’ it was Beckham’s response that truly stole the show. When asked if he was surprised to be excluded from the esteemed list, Beckham said, “Not at all. I played for the greatest manager of all time for the amount of time that I did.”

Beckham responded humbly, befitting his character, echoing his on-field elegance. “I was lucky to have played with the players that I did and the team and be successful with the club that I loved and still love,” Beckham claimed. David Beckham’s journey took him from the Theater of Dreams to the grand stages of Real Madrid, AC Milan, and PSG. 

Despite sharing the field with greats, Beckham remains grounded and affirmed with Ferguson’s choice. “I tend to agree with the manager [Ferguson]. There are certain players that you can call world-class. Thankfully, I played with many of them,” Beckham remarked, acknowledging the exceptional companions he had throughout his career.

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Sir Alex Ferguson claims Cristiano Ronaldo is an ‘ornament’

In his 2015 book, ‘Leading,’ Sir Alex Ferguson compiled his perspective on world-class players. Out of the four players, the Scotsman pointedly praised Ronaldo and reserved special commendation for him. Ferguson stated in his book that only Scholes, Giggs, Cantona, and Ronaldo were the ones who deserved the ‘world-class’ tag from him. However, Cristiano Ronaldo sat like an ornament on the top of the Christmas tree of world-class players. 

Ferguson’s decision to part ways with Beckham after the 2002-03 season paved the way for the rise of Cristiano Ronaldo. In the end, world-class or not, David Beckham undoubtedly left an indelible mark on Manchester United’s history.

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