David Beckham Poses with Israeli Model Michelle Gerzig in Madrid

David Beckham recently found himself at the center of media storms regarding family friction and estrangement from his eldest son, Brooklyn. Yet on Saturday, the football legend momentarily pushed his troubles aside while visiting the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Madrid.

Serving as an ambassador for a Qatari company sponsoring the Spanish capital's new racing circuit, Beckham was received with royal honors. Among the photos he shared on social media, one snapshot particularly caught our attention: Beckham posing alongside Israeli model Michelle Gerzig and her husband, Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper for Real Madrid—the club where Beckham famously played during his illustrious career.

It is so good to be back in Madrid and wonderful to experience the new Formula 1 track, Beckham wrote alongside his Instagram post.

While Beckham has known Jewish roots, no special connection to Israel has ever been documented, and he has never visited the country. In the wake of the October 7 events, his public statements remained rather neutral, leading some critics to accuse him of cozying up to Qatari financial backers.