Rio Ferdinand believes David Beckham deserves real credit if as expected he equals the appearance record of World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore on Wednesday night against Spain.
A 108-cap milestone will be reached should Beckham figure for England against the European champions, but some critics have argued he does not deserve to be in such elevated company as Moore.
As a graduate of the West Ham academy, Ferdinand needs little reminding of Moore's special place in English football, but is equally pleased that his former Manchester United team-mate is back in the news having recaptured top form at AC Milan.
"I don't understand why people argue against him," said Ferdinand.
"It's just because it's Becks. He has become such a big personality in the entertainment world, so people think he doesn't deserve it.
"But you do not play for Milan, Manchester United and Real Madrid without being a good player.
"He's been through five or six England managers, so he must be doing something right.
"There's no taking away what Bobby Moore was - an icon of English football who lifted the World Cup. Becks going past his record will not detract from that."
Beckham is presently trying to find a way of extricating himself from an exceptionally lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy in order to sign a full-time deal with Milan.
At 33, he is enjoying a fabulous close to a career Ferdinand feels is destined to be ranked alongside the very best in the game.
"He has had ups and downs but always seems to rise above the negative stuff," added Ferdinand.
"The fact is David is a top player. If he wins the league in Italy he'll be the only player to win the title in the three biggest leagues.
"He was part of a team that won the treble at Manchester United. He went to Spain and won the league there and with England he was the main reason we went to the World Cup in 2002 with his performance against Greece."
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