Featuring never-before-seen footage, Netflix’s latest docuseries BECKHAM dives deep into the life of the global superstar. From humble beginnings to one of the most well-known names on the planet, the documentary is so good that if you weren’t a fan of his before, you will be.
Outside of the U.S., soccer is referred to properly as football. As the most popular sport on the planet, if you’re fortunate enough to play well, and do so for a big club, your name will be recognizable globally. David Beckham was a young lad who came through the Manchester United academy. “Man U”, as some say for short, is one of the more popular clubs in England and one that has a huge global following. Currently, they’re going through a tumultuous time with fans despising their club’s owners (the Glazers), their current standing (10th place in Premier League), and their roster. They have good players and their manager is decent (at the very most), but that’s not the Man U that attracted a global audience.
David Beckham was brought on to the first team under the leadership of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferguson was known for winning trophies but under hard-nosed leadership. It was his way and no other. Standouts like Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand knew this well. All three featured in the four-part docuseries and gave plenty of onscreen accounts of life back then.
Even as a global superstar, Beckham couldn’t avoid the challenge of balancing his personal ambitions and his family. His documented humble beginnings show precisely how much family meant to him while also displaying his dedication to his craft. The series also serves as a timeline for his career and his relationship with his now-wife Victoria Beckham.
The now-retired England captain spends his days in Miami as part owner of Major League Soccer club Inter Miami FC. Just a few months ago, one of the greatest players to ever play the game, Lionel Messi, signed with Miami after an ugly exit from French club Paris Saint-Germain. His welcoming was the biggest spectacle in American sports since the last global icon to play for Major League Soccer; that being David Beckham himself.
BECKHAM gets a 9 out of 10. The first-person accounts onscreen are a laundry list of footballing royalty. Diego Simeone, Figo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo (Nazário), and others took part in this stunning docuseries. Getting to learn more about Victoria and how the two met and balanced their love life was interesting as well. While the documentary should be one to enjoy by all, I would warn that there is excessive vulgarity throughout the series. So while you may have kids looking to quench their thirst for football film, it may be wise to accompany them should they watch.
BEKCHAM is now available to stream on Netflix
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Netflix