David Beckham was the only thing on my mind after infamous Ronaldinho World Cup goal – I was petrified

It wasn’t the first time David Seaman had been spectacularly beaten from a long range in a high-profile match.

The same thing had happened seven years earlier when Nayim’s 45-yard effort for Real Zaragoza left the former Arsenal goalkeeper red-faced in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Final.

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And if a 2-1 defeat that night in Paris was bad enough, then what would have been the reaction to England being dumped out of the 2002 World Cup?

Such moments provoke big reactions, sometimes over-reactions and Seaman knew that better than anyone.

Beckham’s treatment

He had lived through the excessive reaction to David Beckham’s sending off in 1998 when the then Manchester United star was dismissed for lashing out at Argentina’s Diego Simeone.

Beckham faced nationwide abuse including effigies hung, death threats, and physical harassment.

He was made the scapegoat for the Three Lions’ round of 16 exit and it was only when he returned to Old Trafford that he was able to seek refuge.

And while Beckham successfully played his way back into the hearts of the media and supporters, the vultures waited for their next victim.

As ever, every mistake or misstep with England, particularly at a major tournament, is amplified and when Ronaldinho’s 40-year free-kick sent Sven Goran Eriksson’s side packing, just one thought occupied Seaman’s mind – Beckham.

The Brazilian superstar spotted Seaman off his line before aiming a free-kick that looped over a back-pedalling Seaman and into the top corner.

It proved to be the winning goal and the catalyst for Brazil’s eventual World Cup triumph.

“As a goalkeeper you’re going to make mistakes and I’ve had a couple of high profile ones,” Seaman told talkSPORT’s How To Win The World Cup podcast.

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“You talk about how Beckham got treated, we’ve seen that in his documentary.

“I’m on the pitch after Ronaldinho scored thinking to myself, ‘ Am I going to get treated like Beckham if the scoreline stays the same.’”

A huge sigh of relief

But luckily for the legendary shot-stopper, the reaction was largely positive.

“It was good,” he recalled. “I remember flying back home to Heathrow and there were a lot of fans waiting.

“As soon as I got off the plane, they started singing my name so it was a relief if I’m honest because you never know.

“Everyone mentions it all the time now. But it is what it is, it’s part of my history.

“You get on with it but I’ve got a lot of good memories as well.”

However, it spelled the beginning of the end for Seaman.

The setback sparked debate about whether he should remain England’s number one.

Seaman went on to play just two more times for the Three Lions before being replaced as England No.1 by David James.

He finished his international career with 75 caps for his country while appearing at two World Cups.