Declan Rice reveals David Beckham message after Real Madrid free-kicks

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice admits he was left “speechless” after receiving a private message from David Beckham following his free-kick heroics against Real Madrid.

The England international scored two set-pieces against the Spanish giants in the Champions League last season.

His strikes helped the Gunners secure a dominant 5-1 aggregate victory over the then-European champions.

High praise from a set-piece master

Rice revealed that his performance prompted contact from Beckham, widely regarded as one of the greatest free-kick takers in history.

The 25-year-old told The Sun that receiving praise from the former England captain was a surreal moment.

“He [Beckham] messaged me on Instagram about it. That was crazy, because he had some of the biggest moments ever with free-kicks.”

The former West Ham captain grew up idolising Beckham, specifically referencing the midfielder’s time in Spain as a major influence.

“I remember the first time I met Beckham was in Qatar. We all approached him. Every player was like, he was a god, you know, because it’s Becks.”

Mastering the technique

Remarkably, Rice had never scored a direct free-kick in his professional career prior to his brace against Los Blancos.

One effort curled around the wall with precision, while the second was a powerful drive into the top corner.

Rice explained that his technique relies more on natural instinct than rigid practice routines.

“When I put the ball down [for a set piece], it’s just all about feel. It’s knowing where you’re going to put the ball, how much pace you’re going to put on it.”

He added that set-piece delivery has become a crucial weapon in Arsenal’s tactical armoury as they continue to challenge for major honours.

“People might go: ‘How do you know that?’ You’ve got to go off instinct. I know it can cause chaos, but it’s one of our strengths.”