Sir David Beckham has recently been knighted by King Charles, celebrating a significant milestone in his illustrious career. However, Gary Lineker, a fellow England football legend and former presenter of “Match of the Day,” has yet to receive this distinguished honour, even though he was awarded an OBE in recognition of his contributions to sports and charity.
Lineker’s feelings regarding the honours system have been evident, particularly after fellow football icon Ian Wright was bestowed with an OBE in 2023 for his impactful work on and off the pitch. Wasting no time, Lineker took to social media to congratulate Wright, stating, “Congratulations @IanWright0 on your thoroughly deserved OBE. Sometimes the honours system gets it right.” This remark did not go unnoticed, with fans engaging in discussions about the fairness and structure of the honours system.
One fan voiced a common sentiment, suggesting that those awarding these honours often hold a dismissive attitude towards football, citing the rarity of knighthoods for footballers. Comparisons were made to other sports, noting that cricketers like Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook received KBEs shortly after their retirements, which prompted further debate about the relative recognition across various sports.
While Lineker has been recognised with an OBE, he remains in contention for a knighthood, a distinction that has been awarded to only 30 former footballers, including legends like Kenny Dalglish, Bobby Charlton, and Sir Alex Ferguson. This selective nature of the honours system has left many questioning why some figures in football are overlooked.
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Beckham expressed immense pride upon receiving the knighthood, remarking, “I couldn’t be prouder. People know how patriotic I am – I love my country.” He also highlighted the significance of the monarchy in his life, sharing his experience of being abroad and the widespread admiration people have for the British monarchy.
As this conversation unfolds, Lineker’s supporters continue to advocate for greater recognition of footballers’ contributions, while Beckham enjoys a moment of celebration in a long-debated honours landscape.
