Riccardo Calafiori sparked Arsenal’s comeback against Leeds United on Saturday, and he did it in boots honouring one of English football’s most famous goals.

As noted by LiveScore , the Italy defender was the first player to wear and score in Adidas’ new David Beckham Predators. The special edition marks 25 years since Beckham’s free-kick against Greece sent England to the 2002 World Cup.

Arsenal trailed to James Justin’s 55th-minute strike, but Calafiori levelled seven minutes later from close range after Ben White nodded Noni Madueke’s cross back across goal. Bruno Guimarães then struck the winner.

Riccardo Calafiori is the first player to wear 𝙖𝙣𝙙 score in the David Beckham Predators

The special edition pair celebrates 25 years since Becks’ iconic free-kick sent England to the World Cup

— LiveScore (@livescore) October 10, 2026

Calafiori made his name at Bologna under Thiago Motta and at Euro 2024, often stepping out of central defence into midfield. After the match, Joe Cole asked him which role he prefers on TNT Sports.

“What is your favourite position? Because you were signed as a centre-half, I watched you play in Italy as a centre-half…”

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Calafiori scores in Beckham boots as Arsenal fight back: ‘My goal is to play is as many positions as possible’" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Gironi & Calendario metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

Editorial Fact-Check & Verification Note: This briefing was curated, corroborated, and synthesized by the Mondiali 2026 Italia Editorial Desk. Readers following "Calafiori scores in Beckham boots as Arsenal fight back: ‘My goal is to play is as many positions as possible’" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.