Darts hero Luke Littler admits snubbing sporting icon in social media mix-up during World Championship

LUKE Littler’s unlikely bromance with David Beckham initially failed to hit the bullseye after the darts sensation accidentally snubbed him.

The 17-year-old world champion is a big Manchester United fan and cites Becks as one of his idols, alongside arrows greats Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.

However, when the former England captain, 49, attempted to get in touch with Littler during his breakthrough PDC World Championships in 2023/2024, when he lost in the final, the teenager left Becks waiting for days as he didn’t even notice his request to follow him on social media.

Littler explains: “It was during the world championships but I didn’t even see it in my requests.

“I follow him but I didn’t see it.

“My sister was checking everything to see if anyone had got in contact during the worlds and she found it.”

When he finally got in contact with the ex-United star, Littler added Becks simply told him: “Once a Red, always a Red.”

The Nuke poked fun at Becks at the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony last month when he claimed the ex-Real Madrid star still hadn’t followed him, even though his sister found his request months earlier.

Littler, who beat Michael van Gerwen to win the PDC World Championship earlier this month to avenge last year’s defeat to Luke Humphries, is now in regular contact with the Inter Miami owner who congratulated him again after his most recent victory.

And Becks isn’t the only Manchester United legend to give Littler words of encouragement, as he was also given a pep talk by former manager and 13-times Premier League champion Sir Alex Ferguson, 83.

However, his wisdom didn’t quite strike the same chord as Becks’.

Speaking on Sky Max show A League of Their Own, which airs this Thursday, Littler said: “If I’m honest, I didn’t really understand him.”

The Sun revealed earlier this month Littner has a double reason to celebrate after winning the World Championships as ITV are set to commission a full series of Bullseye.

The Warrington-born ace featured in a Christmas special alongside former Ashes hero Freddie Flintoff, 47, and the one-off special went down so well, pulling in almost 7million viewers, the pair are expected to film a new batch of episodes for the reboot later this year.

A TV insider said: “Luke will be getting deals thrown at him from all quarters, but ITV are confident that he’ll be tempted.

“This deal could turn him from being a darts star into a bona fide TV star.”