Luke Littler has revealed how he deliberately snubbed David Beckham during an awkward social media exchange after the England and Manchester United legend reached out to the darts prodigy.
The 17-year-old’s superstar stock reached new heights at the start of the year as he triumphed against Michael van Gerwen to become the youngest-ever PDC world champion.
Littler boosted his already-astonishing career earnings with another £500,000 after triumphing at Alexandra Palace while his image away from the game also continued to grow.
Sporting royalty and elite footballers Littler has grown up idolising are amongst those the darts champion now finds himself rubbing shoulders with following a whirlwind 12 months.
Littler became a household name last year after previously starring in his magical run to the world final against Luke Humphries during his rookie year in the competition and has been influential in raising the profile of the sport.
The self-confessed die-hard Man United supporter has already become a familiar face around the club’s first-team stars and is also attracting praise from legends of the game.
Beckham appears to have kept a eye on Littler’s rise to becoming a sporting hero in England, but the darts star has revealed how he first accidentally ignored the England and Premier League icon.
It was during the world championships but I didn’t even see it in my requests,’ Littler told The Sunwhen recounting his social media gaffe with Beckham.
‘I follow him but I didn’t see it.
‘My sister was checking everything to see if anyone had got in contact during the worlds and she found it,’ Littler added.
The hilarious interaction didn’t stop Beckham from reaching out again as he was among those to offer their immediate congratulations to Littler following his title win over Van Gerwen.
He went on to reveal that, once the pair did get in contact with one another, Beckham delivered a six-word message to the teenage sensation.
‘Once a Red, always a Red,’ Beckham told Littler, according to the 17-year-old.