James Maddison makes stunning David Beckham admission after his masterclasses helps Spurs thrash Aston Villa
James Maddison has his sights set on achieving the kind of excellence that David Beckham once displayed—and on Sunday, he channeled his inner “Goldenballs” to make Aston Villa pay, netting a stunning free-kick that Beckham himself would likely have admired.
Although Maddison started the game on the bench, he made an immediate impact when called upon late in the match, delivering a perfectly placed free-kick that sailed past Emi Martinez, Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper. The goal capped off a commanding 4-1 victory for Tottenham Hotspur and highlighted Maddison’s impressive dead-ball skills.
Reflecting on his technique, Maddison, who honed his talent at Coventry City’s academy, revealed how Beckham influenced his game from a young age. “I used to watch Beckham closely,” he said. “Last season was actually the first time in my entire career that I didn’t score directly from a free-kick, and it really got to me. I think I’ve probably scored around 15 or 16 direct free-kicks in my career, so going without one last year was tough.”
Maddison admitted he hasn’t had many chances to show Spurs fans his prowess from set-pieces. “For some reason, we just haven’t had many free-kicks in good positions since I’ve joined. But when the opportunity came against Villa, I knew it was one I could take. Years of practice went into that moment—probably about 25 years! I’ve always loved free-kicks. Beckham was my inspiration, and I was a Manchester United fan growing up, so it all started from there.”
Joining Tottenham Hotspur after Leicester City’s relegation in May 2023, Maddison brought a fresh spark to Ange Postecoglou’s side, and his goal against Martinez—recently recognized as the world’s top goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards—was a proud moment for the midfielder. He described the technique he used to outwit the experienced shot-stopper. “That was a sweet one, wasn’t it? Free-kicks that are right on the edge of the box can be tricky—you don’t have a lot of space to get it up and down. So, I tried to take it quickly after the whistle. I leaned into it a bit early, hoping to catch Martinez off guard. Fortunately, it sailed right into the top corner.”
Beyond his spectacular goal, Maddison commented on Tottenham’s overall performance and how they overwhelmed Aston Villa with sheer intensity. “We upped the tempo, and they couldn’t handle it. That’s why our manager was so calm at halftime, even when we were trailing. He knows the kind of firepower we have and how we can hit teams hard and fast.”
Maddison revealed Postecoglou’s halftime encouragement: “At 1-0 down, he just told us to keep our heads up. We have the confidence that we can score multiple goals in a single half if we play our game. That’s exactly what we did against Villa—we turned up the heat, and they simply couldn’t match us. We blew them away.”
With Maddison in top form and showing flashes of Beckham’s precision, Tottenham’s ambitions appear well within reach, as they continue to play with a blend of creativity and intensity that has left fans and opponents alike impressed.