As we now all know, David Beckham earned his 109th cap against Slovakia at the weekend, taking him past Bobby Moore’s outfield record. He will now have his sights set on the all time England record, held by Peter Shilton with 125. If he does stay around for the 2010 World Cup, as he is intent on doing, there is every chance he can break it.

However, if he does, it may not last long; thanks to a certain Wayne Rooney. Wazza earned his 49th cap in the same game; and is only 23. At his age, Beckham had only 21 caps. And though Rooney (probably) won’t go on as long as Becks (unless, perhaps, he assumes more of a Sheringham type role?) he has a huge headstart on him. Furthermore, in that time he’s missed around 20 games through injury and suspension!

There is every chance Rooney could break that record – but also every chance he could break another, that of England’s record goalscorer. It currently stands at 49 (Bobby Charlton) – and three or four years ago Michael Owen looked certain to break that. However, his international career has very much gone off the boil since then – more so since Capello ignored him in the wake of the current injury crisis, instead calling up Darren Bent (oh the ignominy). Rooney currently has 21 international goals in his 49 caps – it took Owen 50 caps, one more than Rooney, to get to 21.

As we have seen with Owen, nothing is certain – Rooney’s body may become ravaged with time, as Owen’s has – but Wayne does not rely on pace, and as long as he keeps his strength, desire, drive and ability, he could become England’s record goalscorer and most capped player. Achievements indeed.

David Beckham’s appearance against Spain gave him his 108th outfield cap for England, equalling the great Bobby Moore’s all-time record. It is generally agreed that while Beckham’s is undoubtedly a great achievement, it does not stack up to the ’66 captain as there were fewer games, inferior training/medical facilities, worse equipment, laxer refs, etc etc back then. But looking in isolation at Beckham, 108 caps (and the not insignificant 17 goals) is a phenomenal achievement. Is he one of England’s greatest outfield players, or has he overly benefitted from excellent fitness and a nice right foot?

David Beckham has three main qualities as a footballer (and a possibly better known one according to Victoria…). They are:

1. Superb fitness – he is able to work tirelessly up and down the line
2. The ability to hit consistently excellent early crosses from his position on the right
3. An almost unparalleled set piece delivery

He is a fine passer of the ball in open play, too – but rare that his incision or assist comes from anywhere other than the right flank (primarily because that’s his position!).

These three key abilities indicate why he has such longevity; as long as he maintains his fitness, it will be years before he loses the ability to cross and hit a dead ball. There are many stories of the England players’ wonderment at Glenn Hoddle’s range of passing in training when he was manager – he just didn’t have the physical capability to play any longer.

David Beckham may well retain his dead ball ability well into his forties – but by then his legs will have well and truly gone. At 33, he may not be quite as mobile or dynamic as he was, but can still certainly get up and down.

So is that all David Beckham is, a right sides midfielder with a great engine who can pass a ball? Or is he better than that, an all time England great?

I think he is both. As mentioned, he is about to equal the caps record, he has captained his country 58 times, and has provided us with some of the most evocative England moments of recent memory. Just thinking about his penalty against Argentina and even more so his last gasp free kick against Greece – my personal favourite all time football moment (let’s have one more look…) – brings out the goosebumps. During that game Beckham ran a phenomenal 16km, a world record at the time, a true Lionheart performance capped by that wonderful goal.

For providing moments like that, performances like that, and for the sheer volume of games he’s worn the three lions, he deserves to go down in the annals as and England great.

Ability wise, there is more of a question mark. A great delivery and a great engine is not enough to put him on a par with such luminaries as Moore, Greaves, Gascoigne, Shearer, Lineker or Scholes – he would perhaps make the top 20 or 30 England players ability wise. If caps were awarded on ability, he would not be the all time leader.

But, crucially, they are not. Obviously it is an element, as you do not get to play for England without a modicum of ability (although Michale Ricketts and Steve Guppy would probably disagree) – and Beckham has Man Utd, Real Madrid and AC Milan on his CV, suggesting he has something about him!

It is Beckham’s unique blend of ability AND dedication, fitness – and in fairness the spread of his skills – that have allowed him to equal (and in all probability break) the record.

David Beckham, we salute you – a thoroughly deserved achievement.