Graeme Souness was always well regarded for his ridiculously high standards during his playing days. After all, his mentality - one that demanded blood, sweat, and tears every game - was the driving force behind his three European Cups and five league titles as Liverpool captain. But that same no-nonsense approach earned him very different opinions during his punditry career.
When translated into his role as one of football's most outspoken mouthpieces, the legendary Scot’s high standards have landed him in more than a few heated debates. None more so than his controversial claim that David Beckham wasn’t world-class, even as he named two other Manchester United icons as exactly that.
Given Beckham is England’s highest assist maker of all time, and with 85 goals and 121 assists in 394 trophy-laden appearances for the Red Devils, that take is hard for many to swallow. But Souness was never shy to give his two cents on the topic.
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Souness Claimed David Beckham Wasn't World Class
He named two other United teammates who were more deserving of that title
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Beckham enjoyed a glittering career at United as he won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League, while he also had stints with AC Milan, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and LA Galaxy. But looking back at the Englishman's career in a segment with talkSPORT in 2024, Souness denied that he was ever world-class. He said:
"I wouldn't say he was a world-class football player. I think he was... dead-ball kicker, as good as anyone you want to name. But you know, you're talking world-class...
"World-class for me is a word that's bandied about, commentators are using it all the time. World-class for me is someone who could go anywhere and get in anyone's team, and there's only ever."
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Paul Scholes And Ryan Giggs Labelled World-Class By Souness
The Scot was particularly keen to praise the latter
Presenter Jim White then spoke about how good the famed Class of '92 were, with Beckham breaking into the United first-team alongside Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville. Souness replied, going back to the world-class debate:
"Giggs would get in anywhere. Giggs was world-class, Giggs goes and gets in anyone's team. He played out wide didn't he? I think we maybe didn't mention the best one, I think Scholes was world-class. I liked to play against him, he was proper."
It's certainly high praise from a player who rarely gets starstruck and used to boss midfield like anyone could during his heyday. But with the sheer amount of trophies, goals, assists, and influence the United duo had during pretty much the entirety of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign of terror, it's a fair assessment from someone who takes being world-class overly seriously.
Giggs is the most decorated British footballer of all time, while Scholes - lovingly nicknamed the 'Ginger Prince' by the Old Trafford faithful - was an all-encompassing middle man who was always up for the big occasions, as shown in his Champions League heroics, as well as his winning goal in the 2004 FA Cup final.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 30/05/2025)