‘I found David Beckham’s wallet on the ground – then I played a prank on him’ | Football | Sport
David Beckham’s lost wallet was found by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal (Image: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
Shaquille O’Neal once playfully demanded a financial reward for returning Sir David Beckham‘s wallet after discovering it lying on the floor. The pair struck up a friendship when the former Manchester United star joined LA Galaxy in 2007.
O’Neal had previously played for NBA outfit the Los Angeles Lakers and recalled that he had initially intended to pocket the cash he discovered inside the wallet. However, he swiftly had a change of heart upon realising who it belonged to.
During an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, the 54-year-old said: “I was walking one day in Beverly Hills and I found a wallet. Usually when I find wallets, I just take all the money out and I just throw them. But this was a nice wallet.”
Upon recognising the wallet as Beckham’s, O’Neal decided to change tack and pull a prank on the former England international.
He said: “First I played a joke. I was like, ‘I have your wallet, it’s going to cost you a million dollars to get it back.’ But he knew it was me.
“[Beckham said] ‘Shaq, stop playing.’ I was like ‘Dave, I found your wallet.’ The funny thing is he [Beckham] said, ‘There was some money in this wallet, you know what happened?’ And I was like, ‘Nope.'”
Beckham’s reaction to the missing money gag highlighted the close bond the pair had developed as he settled into life on the west coast.
The two sporting icons struck up a friendship after Beckham joined LA Galaxy (Image: Christopher Polk/WireImage)
Today, the former England midfielder serves as president and co-owner of MLS club Inter Miami, working alongside the legendary Lionel Messi.
Beckham is expected to feature at this year’s World Cup, which is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The west coast contingent of venues includes San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle, with the USA national team playing two of their group stage fixtures at the Los Angeles Stadium, also known as the SoFi Stadium.
New Zealand, Iran, Switzerland, Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina are also among the sides set to appear at the venue.
Three knockout rounds will be staged at the LA Stadium, comprising two round-of-32 ties and a quarter-final clash.
Messi’s Argentina will kick off their campaign against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16, at the Kansas City Stadium.
England, meanwhile, will lock horns with Croatia on Wednesday, June 17 at the Dallas Stadium.
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