On June 30, 1998, England and Argentina met in the round of 16 at the World Cup in France in one of the most memorable matches in tournament history.

The game was tied 2-2 shortly after halftime when the moment that would define David Beckham’s early career took place. Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone fouled the English star, pushing him to the ground. As both players fell, Beckham reacted by kicking out at Simeone while the Argentine was still lying on the field.

Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen immediately showed Beckham a straight red card, while Simeone received a yellow card for the initial foul.

Playing with 10 men for more than 70 minutes, England managed to hold on until a penalty shootout, but Argentina prevailed 4-3 to eliminate the Three Lions from the tournament.

England’s biggest scapegoat after red card

The defeat turned Beckham, who was only 23 years old at the time, into the main target of criticism from much of the English media and supporters.

The rivalry with Argentina was still fueled by memories of Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 World Cup, making the elimination even more painful for fans back home.

The following day, some newspapers launched fierce attacks against the Manchester United midfielder. The Daily Mirror’s front page featured the headline: “Ten heroic lions, one stupid boy.”

For months afterward, Beckham was booed at stadiums across England, received death threats and even had effigies of him hung in public places. The abuse extended to his family, who required police protection after receiving threats.

Years later, Beckham admitted that the aftermath of that red card was the lowest point of his career.

Beckham’s redemption against Argentina four years later

Despite the backlash, Beckham responded in the best possible way on the field.

Just one year later, he helped Manchester United complete a historic treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in the 1998-99 season. He also finished second in the 1999 Ballon d’Or voting behind Barcelona star Rivaldo.

But his defining moment of redemption came at the 2002 World Cup, again against Argentina.

In England’s group-stage meeting with their historic rivals, Beckham scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in a 1-0 victory, four years after becoming the villain in the eyes of many supporters.

That goal represented sporting revenge against the same opponent that had produced the toughest moment of his career. It completely changed how many fans viewed him, transforming Beckham from a symbol of failure into a national hero.

Over time, the red card in 1998 stopped being the moment that defined him.

What turned Beckham into English soccer’s biggest villain became the starting point of one of the most memorable redemption stories in World Cup history.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.