Beckham's still our golden boy

David Beckham's ability to deliver both controversy and free- kicks returned with welcome and productive vengeance last week. Eight days ago, he was a former England captain heading for the obscurity of a few lucrative twilight years in Los Angeles. He was heading out of the headlines and towards a "Where Are They Now?" feature of the future. But then, last Saturday, in a U-turn by England head coach Steve McClaren, he was chosen to play for his country again. Within days, there were reports that the forgotten golden boy of English football would be knighted, swiftly followed by stories that this honour was being blocked.

The nation was divided. Football legend Jimmy Greaves, writing in The Sun, said: "Why should Becks get a knighthood? People say he has done a lot of charity work for good causes like Unicef. But he just turns up and has his picture taken."

Not on Friday he didn't. Pulling on an England shirt for the first time in 11 months, he was a presence whose interventions were the telling ones, not least in his free-kick from which John Terry scored. Yesterday morning, the tabloids were beside themselves with patriotic glee at his performance, and even The Washington Post was moved to headline their report: "Beckham Inaugurates New Wembley Stadium". He now heads to Estonia with the national squad for a European Championship qualifying match. But his potential knighthood and lifestyle continue to draw criticism. We asked you whether you felt David Beckham is a hero or a villain. It seems you veered to the former.

Last week, the 'IoS' reported that Beckham's recall created a diary clash with Victoria Beckham at the MTV Movie Awards in California. But his spokesman Simon Oliver insists David was never going to attend, as he would have been training with Real Madrid.

Elitha Navaratnam, Singapore

I am happy that he is going to be knighted because he is the only footballer from the UK who has won many hearts in Asia and the world. People should congratulate him.

Alanwarwic

[Beckham] deserves a knighthood just for staying with Posh!

Runci

Beckham is hated because he is the most overrated player of all time. As for it not being his fault, he is at the centre of a media circus it certainly is his fault, he has carefully stage-managed his media publicity for years.

Bulldozer

How do you think he should live his life, and what does it have to do with us? People were knocking him for not being the sharpest tool in the box for God's sake, he's a football player not the Dalai Lama!

katiebug

Making Victoria a 'Lady' would be a bad move. But considering that David Beckham is - or was - a hero to millions of England, Manchester United and Real Madrid supporters, I suppose it is a good move to honour him.

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