David Beckham once demonstrated his generosity with a refined act during one of Gordon Ramsay's dinner parties. Beckham carved out one of the most iconic careers in English football, collecting numerous titles with Manchester United, including a famous Treble in 1999. He later enjoyed spells at Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring from the sport in his late 30s.
Few athletes have approached his global status or financial success, thanks in part to his wide-ranging ventures away from the pitch. Even fewer are spoken of as modest and courteous. Earlier this month, Beckham, now 50, finally received his knighthood in recognition of his dedication to sport and charitable efforts. After the ceremony at Windsor Castle, where King Charles III conducted the knighting, Beckham was seen leaving Ramsay's Michelin-starred restaurant in West London.
The pair first met in 2006 and their bond strengthened once both families moved to Los Angeles. Tash Pericic, who formerly worked as assistant manager to the celebrated chef at the Michelin-starred Maze Grill in London, said Beckham became a familiar face at the restaurant.
Pericic also shared a memory from a private Christmas Eve dinner at Ramsay's London home, recalling another interaction with Beckham that stayed with her.
During her interview with Insider, she noted that Ramsay, aside from losing his temper over some chairs - "What the f*** do you call these chairs!? They're so terrible I wouldn't throw them on a f****** bonfire!" - was generally friendly.
She continued: "Gordon turned to us and said, 'Relax, you aren't at work, enjoy, have a glass of champagne,' so we had a Christmas Eve toast with Gordon."
Yet Beckham's courtesy made an even stronger impression. Pericic explained that the former Manchester United ace, arriving with his wife, Victoria, was the only guest who took the time to introduce himself to the kitchen team.
"A small gesture, but it says a lot," she said. Her story highlighted his thoughtfulness toward staff working in a high-pressure environment, despite his immense fame and accomplishments.