Not every day that David Beckham walks into your school, Andhra girls' unforgettable moment goes viral
Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium
Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only BenefitsGirl students of a government school in Andhra Pradesh had a real-life ‘Bend it like Beckham’ moment when the legendary footballer turned up on their campus on Wednesday.
The star player later took to social media to recount his experience. In a reel posted on Instagram, set to the beats of a Karan Aujla song — David Beckham announced, “As you can see, I'm back in India and today, I'm going back to school."
The campus in question is that of a residential school in Kothavalasa near Vizag, on the grounds of which Beckham can be seen dazzling the students with his trademark footwork. The girls, in turn, were seen trying to match his moves, breaking into laughter as they attempted their own “bends and dribbles” along with him.
“The girls greeted me with a welcome dance, made musical instruments, planted trees and got involved with their football games, too,” Beckham said in the video, which captures their exuberant interactions and the infectious energy on the field.
Social media erupted soon after.
“This is so special,” wrote a user.
“R.I.P to the guy who was absent,” joked another, echoing the sentiment of many who wished they were there.
Later on Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Human Resources Minister Nara Lokesh thanked Beckham for the memorable visit. In a post on X, he wrote, “Your heartfelt interactions, encouragement and playful energy lit up our classrooms and our playground.”
The students, he added, were thrilled to learn how to “bend it like Beckham” — lessons they would carry for life.