CBS Sports already had what many fans considered to be the dream team of football pundits. The UEFA Champions League coverage provided by Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards has led to countless viral moments in recent years.
But that star-studded lineup got even better on the opening night of the 2024-25 league phase as David Beckham joined the team. Ex-England captain Beckham – who won the Champions League with Manchester United in 1999 – made quite an entrance too. He was originally introduced via a video link as he appeared on a giant screen inside the CBS studio.
“YOU STILL SMELL LOVELY!” 😂@MicahRichards and the #UCLToday crew got the ultimate in-studio surprise 😱 pic.twitter.com/RqArwcOui3
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 17, 2024
Former Man City defender Richards struggled to contain his excitement as he shouted: ‘David, my hero.’ Beckham pretended he was unable to hear, but this was all a pre-recorded ruse. As Richards and Co sat staring and shouting at the screen, Beckham entered quietly entered the studio from the opposite side. Carragher looked genuinely stunned as he and Richards both screamed before the latter leaped to his feet and hugged Beckham.
Richards then said: ‘What a guy! You still smell lovely’. Beckham eventually took a seat between Henry and Richards, who continued fanboying. ‘I’m looking at his style, the suit is fresh,’ Richards added. ‘Oh my gosh. What a guy!’
“He smells good, he looks good… His suit is fresh. What a guy!” 😍@MicahRichards is in AWE of the legend himself, David Beckham 😂🙌 pic.twitter.com/All1AhxThe
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 17, 2024
Introducing Beckham and Friends 😍
The LEGEND David Beckham will host a #UCL altcast for the second leg of the semifinals and final on @ParamountPlus 📺💫 pic.twitter.com/X91SmbHOxg
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 17, 2024
The ‘Beckham & Friends’ altcast for CBS Sports will be available as a new viewing option to Paramount+ subscribers for the next two finals, as well as the semi-final second legs this season and next. Beckham explained that he will likely be joined by a different celebrity friend for each edition of his ‘watch party’-style altcast.
He said: ‘I love watching the game, and I like watching the game in a certain way, and most of the time it is either with my kids or my friends. ‘So it’s going to be that kind of thing, where I’m sat there watching the games, commenting on the games, with friends, talking about the game and not sometimes talking about the game.’
