Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand believes that David Beckham has proved that he is far more substance than showbiz.
Former England skipper Becks will win his 108th cap against Spain in Seville on Wednesday night.
That will move him alongside the late, great Bobby Moore as the country’s most capped outfield player.
Yet still there are the doubters who slam Beckham’s glitzy lifestyle and believe it is sacrilege for him to be mentioned in the same breath as Moore.
Ferdinand grew up at West Ham with the shadow of Moore hanging over him. The club’s then manager Harry Redknapp would constantly remind him of Moore’s qualities.
But Rio, who won his first title when Beckham was at Manchester United, feels he has rightfully earned his place in English football history alongside the Hammers legend.
Ferdinand said: “I don’t understand why people are arguing about him equalling the record."
“It’s just because it’s Becks, it's a talking point. It’s because he has become a big personality in the entertainment world and suddenly people start thinking he doesn’t deserve it as he’s not a whole-hearted footballer.
“For anyone to get 100 caps, you have to be a good player. He has worked with five or six England managers and they’ve all picked him, so he must be doing something right. There’s no taking away what Bobby Moore is. He is an icon of English football who lifted the World Cup, the only man to do that for England. But Becks going past his record will not diminish anything he did,” The Sun quoted Ferdinand, as saying.
