Football legend sports cast and sling after ‘unbearable’ wrist surgery but still makes transatlantic sprint from Atlanta to join unrecognisable former champion on Henman Hill
David Beckham showed no sign of jet lag as he made an extraordinary transatlantic dash from watching his Inter Miami side get humiliated 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain to take his seat at Wimbledon’s opening day.
The 50-year-old football icon, still sporting a blue sling and plaster cast after undergoing surgery to remove a screw embedded in his wrist for 22 years, touched down at SW19 just hours after witnessing his team’s Club World Cup dreams crushed at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
But any disappointment was quickly forgotten as Beckham shared an enthusiastic selfie with former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova on Henman Hill – though fans did a double-take at the Russian’s dramatic transformation.
The five-time Grand Slam winner, 38, looked almost unrecognisable with her new shorter, darker hairstyle – a far cry from the towering blonde who dominated Centre Court for nearly two decades.
Becks battles through pain
Just last week, Beckham was hospitalised in ‘unbearable’ pain before undergoing surgery to finally fix an injury suffered while playing for England against South Africa in May 2003.
Victoria Beckham had shared touching hospital photos of her husband recovering, writing “Get well soon daddy” as the football legend smiled through the pain with a handmade bracelet spelling out “Get Well.
A recent X-ray had revealed that a screw inserted after the original injury had failed to dissolve as intended, instead embedding itself in his forearm and causing increasing agony in recent months.
“David had been in pain for years but thought nothing of it,” a source revealed. “He just kept going until, in recent months, it became quite unbearable.”
Jet-set schedule
Despite the surgery and his team’s crushing defeat, Beckham maintained his punishing schedule:
- Sunday afternoon: Watched Inter Miami lose 4-0 to PSG in Atlanta
- Sunday evening: Transatlantic flight to London
- Monday morning: Arrival at Wimbledon for Day One
- Monday afternoon: Royal Box seat alongside mother Sandra
Asked about his condition by DAZN in Atlanta, Beckham had brushed off concerns: “It’s fine. It was an old injury that needed surgery but it’s all good.”
Sharapova’s stunning transformation
The former world No.1, who won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old sensation in 2004, sparked a social media frenzy with her dramatically different appearance.
Gone were the signature light blonde locks that made her instantly recognisable during her playing days. Instead, the Russian beauty sported a chic shorter cut in a much darker shade.
“Let the (Wimbledon) games begin 🎾🥳,” Sharapova posted on Instagram alongside her selfie with Beckham, sending fans into meltdown over her new look.
The pair’s friendship goes back years, with Sharapova a regular at Victoria Beckham’s fashion shows and family events.
Royal Box glamour
As sporting Royalty, the duo enjoyed prime seats in Wimbledon’s exclusive Royal Box, avoiding the chaos of The Queue which left thousands of fans disappointed.
Beckham, sporting another of his trademark navy suits despite the cast and sling, was joined by his 75-year-old mother Sandra for the prestigious opening day.
The Queue had been “incredibly popular” with fans camping out since the early hours, only to be told by officials: “Please be aware that the Queue for Day 1 is very busy and to avoid disappointment we strongly advise you not to travel to the Grounds today.
Miami’s European nightmare
Beckham’s Wimbledon appearance came just hours after watching his Inter Miami side – featuring Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba – get demolished by his former club PSG in the Club World Cup Round of 16.
The MLS side, who had made history as the first American team to reach the knockout rounds, were no match for the European champions who cruised to victory with goals from João Neves (2), Achraf Hakimi and Gonçalo Ramos.
It marked a bitter reunion for Messi against his former club, with the Argentine superstar unable to inspire a comeback at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Sir David’s summer of pain
The wrist surgery caps a challenging period for newly-knighted Sir David, who received his honour from King Charles III earlier this month for services to sport and charity.
“Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour,” he had said.
But the ongoing family feud with eldest son Brooklyn and daughter-in-law Nicola Peltz has cast a shadow, with the couple notably absent from his Father’s Day celebrations and birthday events.
Wimbledon 2025 begins
The Championships got underway with defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz opening proceedings on Centre Court against Italy’s Fabio Fognini.
The 138th edition of the world’s oldest tennis tournament runs until July 13, with total prize money of £53.5 million – a 7% increase from last year.
Women’s world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka began her quest for a first grass major on Court 1, while British No.1 Emma Raducanu looked to improve on last year’s fourth-round showing.
As temperatures soared on what was expected to be the hottest day of the year, Beckham and Sharapova’s star power added extra glamour to an already glittering opening day at the All England Club.
Despite the cast, the sling, and the jet lag, Golden Balls proved once again that nothing keeps him from the biggest sporting occasions – even if it means racing across the Atlantic to get there.
