Luke Littler shares David Beckham’s heartfelt Instagram DM which left him in awe

Darts prodigy Luke Littler has revealed the touching message he received from football icon David Beckham.

The young Manchester United enthusiast has rapidly become a familiar name after his remarkable run to the World Championship final earlier this year. At just 17, Littler has captured the hearts of sports fans everywhere as he consistently beat the odds, ultimately finishing runner-up to Luke Humphries, whom he has enjoyed an excellent sporting rivalry with since.

Following his recent triumph as Premier League Darts champion, where he got his revenge over Humphries in the final, Littler's meteoric rise to fame has attracted congratulations from numerous high-profile sporting figures. However, it was an Instagram message from the ex-England captain Beckham that truly took the darting sensation by surprise.

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In conversation with Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, when quizzed about which celebrity message had astonished him the most, Littler said: "It's Beckham. He sent me a message. He just said, 'Well done on the world championships' and he was like, 'Once a red, always a red'."

Despite being too young to have seen Beckham during his prime at Old Trafford, Littler has had the chance to mingle with the current United team. Recounting his experience at Carrington during the interview, the Premier League Darts winner mentioned meeting some of his footballing idols.

"I met them at the training ground, it was crazy. McTominay and Maguire, they were the big ones who were excited to see me," he shared. "It's just like