The list of Premier League players better than Manchester United legend David Beckham is not very long.
The former right-midfielder was an icon during his time in England, both on and off the pitch, having won six Premier League titles with Man United, while becoming a well-known figure in pop culture due to his relationship with his wife, Victoria.
Conor Gallagher recently stated that he believes Rodri was better than Beckham, and with Man City blessed to witness several top players over the last 15 years, Darren Bent has named another star he feels was a better player than the former Man United hero.
Close up of David Beckham at an Inter Miami match.
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
David Silva was a better player than David Beckham
David Silva became a Man City legend during the 10 years he spent at the Etihad Stadium before leaving the Manchester club for free in 2020.
The Spaniard won everything in English football with City, leaving Kevin De Bruyne to label Silva as Man City’s greatest ever player.
When asked to rank the best Davids to have ever played in the Premier League, Bent put Silva in the top spot, with the former striker telling Andy Goldstein that the Spaniard was a better player than Beckham.
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“He’s not better than David Silva. He is not,” Bent said on talkSPORT when arguing with Goldstein about which player was better. “I know you love him (David Beckham), but as a player, he is not better than Silva… He is a legend, but he is not better than David Silva.”
Many fans and pundits, such as Paul Scholes, rate Silva very highly when compared to the greats of football, so it is not a surprise to learn that Bent ranks Man City legend higher than Beckham.
The Spaniard’s brilliance is often overshadowed by what the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero did at Man City, but many fans of the Manchester club will agree that the former midfielder deserves his flowers.
David Silva in action for Man City against Manchester United
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How David Silva compares to David Beckham
It is hard to compare both players, given that Silva was a number 10, while Beckham was a right midfielder, with both also having different styles of play.
The numbers also don’t do the Man City legend justice; therefore, the best way to judge them is to use the eye test, although others will make their choice based on preference or style.
Player Games Goals Assists Titles
David Silva 309 60 93 4
David Beckham 265 62 80 6
David Silva and David Beckham’s Premier League stats
Silva was exceptionally technical, who successfully operated in tight spaces due to his movement and dribbling skills, and had an incredible eye for a pass.
As for Beckham, the former Man United star liked space in front of him so he could swing in pinpoint crosses or make exceptional cross-field passes, while the Englishman was also a hard worker, who made sure to do his defensive duties too.
Most people would pick Silva over Beckham as a result of the Spaniard being the better natural footballer, but that does not take away from how good the former Man United star.