David Beckham is one of the most famous British sports stars of all time and is lucky enough to be hailed as one of the most handsome men on the planet! His marriage to a global pop star and countless magazine covers are testament to his immense popularity. However, back in the 90s, some skeptics doubted that he would age as gracefully as he has.
An Unflattering Vision of 2020
In 1998, just as he was on the verge of becoming the iconic sports figure we know today, FourFourTwo magazine attempted to predict what Beckham would look like in 2020. To put it mildly, their prediction couldn’t have been more off the mark! The mock-up image they created was not only unflattering but wildly inaccurate. Rather than the luscious locks, chiseled jawline, and captivating eyes he now possesses, the journalists at FourFourTwo imagined a David Beckham with receding hair, an enlarged forehead, and even an unflattering unibrow.
Their vision of his future included a less glamorous twist in his career as they humorously suggested he would fall from grace. The magazine painted a grim picture of Beckham’s future, stating that things went distinctly pear-shaped for the Manchester United starlet after his club missed out on the 1998 championship.
Beckham’s Actual Transformation
Fast forward to 2020, and we see a David Beckham who defied FourFourTwo‘s interesting vision. With a successful career in football, business, and fashion, he remains a global icon. His looks remain intact, and his life is a far cry from the tongue-in-cheek prognosis made over two decades ago.
As the Beckham docuseries debuts on Netflix, we are reminded of his long-lasting appeal. While the prediction failed to capture the essence of the real David Beckham, it serves as a humorous glimpse into the past. One fan jokingly commented that in 20 years he too, could finally look like Beckham. While the magazine’s foresight may have missed the mark, one thing is certain–David Beckham’s iconic status is here to stay.