David Beckham was met with boos on stage in New York when he declined to predict a winner for the upcoming World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
Beckham, who has been a prominent figure at the tournament in North America, was speaking at Fanatics Fest alongside Brazil legend Kaka. When asked to choose between the two finalists, he expressed affection for both nations.
"Obviously I played in Spain, so I have a huge affection for Spain as a country and obviously for their football team," Beckham stated. "I think they've done an exceptional job this World Cup and they deserve to be in the final." He also acknowledged the prowess of Argentina, highlighting Lionel Messi as an "exceptional player, but an exceptional person with the right values."
Pressed for a definitive answer, Beckham ultimately chose to "sit on the fence," stating, "I don't know who's going to win. I want Lionel to do incredibly well because he's an exceptional person and player. But Spain are going to be tough to play against."
The crowd's reaction prompted Beckham to joke about the jeers, remarking, "I haven't been booed for a while. I wasn't expecting it here."
Beckham's ties to both Argentina and Spain are notable. He played in Spain and has a close relationship with Messi, who currently plays for Beckham's Inter Miami team. Historically, however, Beckham has a complex World Cup history with Argentina, having been famously sent off in the 1998 tournament against them.
England's semi-final loss to Argentina earlier in the week also saw Beckham visibly disappointed, as he was seen with his head in his hands in the stands. The report also mentioned instances of England players and fans being subjected to boos during the national anthem in matches against Argentina.