Painful moment David Beckham broke wrist in England clash that left him needing secret operation 22 years later

The Sun

27-06-2025

DAVID BECKHAM has undergone surgery due to breaking his wrist over TWO DECADES ago in an England match.
The football legend snapped his wrist in the Three Lions' 2-1 win over South Africa in a friendly match back in May 2003.
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Beckham, 50, had already picked up an assist in the match as he whipped in a free kick for Gareth Southgate to head home in the first minute.
He was forced off just four minutes into the second half after he awkwardly fell after an earlier challenge from Thabang Molefe.
The midfielder landed on his right hand and could be seen in plenty of pain, but had initially tried to play on.
As a result, he was subbed off by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and replaced by Jermaine Jenas.
He underwent tests at the time, which showed that he had broken the scapoid bone in his right hand.
The bone connects the thumb to the wrist and is a famously tricky injury to heal.
It was a blow to Goldenballs, who had broken his metatarsal bone in his foot a year earlier.
The Sun has now exclusively revealed that Beckham has had secret surgery to repair the broken wrist.
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The operation was required after an x-ray showed that a screw had embbeded itself in his forearm and not dissolved properly.
Beckham's new operation appears to have been a success with wife Victoria posting on social media.
David Beckham in hospital as Victoria shares picture of star with arm in sling & sweet 'get well soon daddy' message
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The Spice Girl posted a picture of the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star in his hospital bed with his arm in a sling.
A message read: "Get well soon daddy."
Beckham was also given a sweet bracelet with the words "Get well soon" spelt out on it.
A source told The Sun that Beckham had been "in pain for years" and that it had become "unbearable" in recent months.
Meanwhile, he was recently awarded with a knighthood by King Charles II.
He had already been handed an OBE back in 2003 - the same year as the wrist injury.