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Galaxy midfielder has a sprained MCL in his right knee from his tumble in SuperLiga final.
Just when he was starting to recover from the sprained left ankle that had hobbled his introduction to America, David Beckham learned Thursday that a sprained right knee he suffered in Wednesday's SuperLiga final would sideline him for six weeks.
The Galaxy star was diagnosed with a sprained medial collateral ligament by team physician Dr. Ron Kvitne after undergoing an MRI exam Thursday.
Beckham was injured 30 minutes into the Galaxy's dramatic penalty-kick loss at Home Depot Center when he and Pachuca defender Francisco Salazar went after a loose ball.
Beckham, who arrived at the ball an instant after Salazar, hit it with his right foot, twisting his knee in the process and sending him flying to the turf, where he lay face down.
When he rose, he hobbled off the field and went straight to the bench. Though he returned to the sideline, dressed in a coat and tie for the penalty shootout, Beckham feared a significant injury.
"It's gone from one thing to another," said an emotional Beckham, who hobbled up to an interview podium afterward. "It's hard to tell, but it doesn't feel good. With a ligament strain, it's four to six weeks, but we'll have to see."
With Beckham's fears confirmed, the diagnosis means he may have played his last game for the Galaxy this season, or possibly his last game at Home Depot Center.
If the recovery runs the expected six weeks, Beckham would return the second week in October - in time for the Galaxy's final three games (Oct. 13 vs. Toronto, Oct. 18 vs. New York, and Oct. 21 at Chicago) and for England's final three European Championship qualifiers (Oct. 13 vs. Estonia, Oct. 17 at Russia, and Nov.21 vs. Croatia).
But if Beckham is recovered by then and is called up by England manager Steve McClaren, he would miss the two Galaxy home games.
Of course, with the Galaxy mired in last place in the 13-team MLS and England stuck in fourth place in a group chasing two qualifying spots for next summer's tournament, Beckham may not have much to play for with club or country when he returns.
Beckham's injury further stamps this season as a lost opportunity for the Galaxy and MLS, and figures to bring continued criticism for Coach Frank Yallop, President Alexi Lalas, AEG president Tim Leiwicke and MLS commissioner Don Garber for not doing more to protect their investment.
Beckham's ankle injury was aggravated by him playing before it was fully recovered, and it may have been a contributing factor in the knee sprain.
"I went into the tackle and whether I was compensating for my left ankle, which everyone knows is not fully fit," Beckham said. "So whether I compensated and had gone into the tackle a little bit weaker than I would have done had I been fully fit, I don't know."
When Beckham signed a five-year, $32.5 million contract with the Galaxy in January - more than double the next-highest paid player in MLS - it was hailed as a landmark day for MLS and soccer in America.
Even though he had been benched at Real Madrid and dropped from England, leading some to consider him over-the-
hill, Beckham still had the marketing cachet to draw sponsors and customers to the 11-year-old league.
When Beckham found his way back with England and Real Madrid - leading the Spanish club to a league title - the move only enhanced the league's credibility.
But after spraining his left ankle while playing for England against Estonia on June 9, he took three pain-killing shots to play the La Liga-clinching game for Real Madrid a week later.
The ankle has been slow to heal, the recovery was hampered by Beckham playing before it was not fully recovered, including a stretch when he tried to play three games in six days in New York, London and Los Angeles.
In all, he's been on the field for just 310 minutes since he arrived in mid-July.
That works out, with his half-season salary, to $10,483.87 per minute.
Despite his scant playing time and his gimpy left ankle, Beckham delivered the type of moments on the field that he's built his international profile on - swerving free kicks and a flair for the dramatic.
In his first start, Aug. 15 against D.C. United, he scored on one of his slicing free kicks - sending the hapless goalie the opposite way in a SuperLiga semifinal win.
A few days later in New York, more than 66,000 turned out to watch Beckham and he didn't disappoint, setting up a pair of goals off set pieces and playing the entire match as the Galaxy lost, 5-4. |
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