Beckham on Pacquiao: I’m a huge fan

Pacquiao shows off Beckham's jersey. Photo by AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Drenched in sweat, he rushed out of the pitch and took off his jersey before handing it to his idol seated at the VIP area.

Even David Beckham gets enthralled by the mere presence of Manny Pacquiao.

“I couldn’t wait to get off the field when I saw him (Pacquiao). I’m a huge fan,” shared Beckham, who kickstarted the LA Galaxy’s 6-1 win over the Philippine Azkals with his patented strike.

“He’s a talented man and good person. I saw him walking during the game, it was exciting,” added Beckham, whose game against the Philippines was believed to be his second to the last game as part of the Galaxy before going back to Europe.

The English football star awed the sellout crowd at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium with a curling strike that went up and over Azkals’ keeper Eduard Sacapano in the 20th minute.

Incidentally, both Beckham and Pacquiao have just come off stunning victories.

Beckham led the Galaxy to the Major League Soccer Cup title a little over a week after Pacquiao edged Marquez in their trilogy to retain his WBO welterweight crown last month.

In another grand gesture, Beckham went back to the post-game conference just to give a signed jersey to Phil Younghusband.

Asked whether he would like to return to Manila, Beckham answered: “We’d love to come back.”

Beckham and American star striker Landon Donovan, who were said to play only in the first half, logged more than 70 minutes.

The pound-for-pound king along with his wife, Jinkee, and kids arrived just minutes before the first half ended.