Overview
- Rice said Beckham messaged him on Instagram after he scored two direct free-kicks against Real Madrid last season.
- Those strikes delivered a 3-0 first-leg win in the Champions League quarter-finals, helping Arsenal progress 5-1 on aggregate.
- Before that night, Rice had never scored a free-kick in his senior career, and he has not added another this season.
- Coverage reports his brace made him the first player to score two direct free-kicks in a single Champions League knockout match.
- Rice has four goals and eight assists this term as Arsenal lead the Premier League and prepare to face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.