David Beckham vs Ousmane Dembélé
England against France. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
David Beckham
England · 1992–2013 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in England
- #15 of 33
- Caps
- 115 · 17 goals
- Clubs
- Manchester United, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, LA Galaxy
- Honours
- 4× national Player of the Year (1997–2011) · 3× Hall of Fame (2003–2021)
On the opening day of the 1996/97 season he looked up at Selhurst Park, saw Neil Sullivan two steps off his line and dropped the ball over him from inside his own half. The 1999 Champions League completed United's treble and he won six league titles there, then La Liga in 2007, two MLS Cups in Los Angeles and Ligue 1 in Paris in 2013, with 59 games as England captain. Career record: 115 caps and 17 goals for England; club career at Manchester United, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, LA Galaxy; honours include 4× national Player of the Year (1997–2011), 3× Hall of Fame (2003–2021).
Ousmane Dembélé
France · 2015–26 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 92
- Rank in France
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 65 · 12 goals
- Clubs
- Borussia Dortmund, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 2025
Twenty-five first-half minutes against Norway on 26 June 2026 brought Dembélé three goals, the fastest World Cup hat-trick in seventy-two years and the first of his France career. A World Cup winner with France in 2018, he took the 2025 Ballon d'Or after carrying Paris Saint-Germain to their first Champions League, and league titles in both Paris and Barcelona, plus the 2017 German Cup at Dortmund. Career record: 65 caps and 12 goals for France; club career at Borussia Dortmund, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain; honours include Ballon d'Or 2025.
The verdict
The almanac puts Ousmane Dembélé ahead by 2 rating points, 92 against 90.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.