Soccer star David Beckham has won a substantial payout for libel after British newspaper the “Daily Star” claimed Beckham had “made a play” for a Hungarian model.

The men’s fashion icon received damages for the way he was portrayed in the papers article and the trouble it had caused. Express Group Newspapers apologised for their story printed in the newspaper titled “Becks And The Blonde Beauty and Topless Model Claims She Was Chatted Up By Footie Star”.

The newspaper group agreed to pay substantial but undisclosed damages to the soccer champ, as well as his legal expenses. The article claimed Beckham had “got close” with Hungarian model Mariann Fogarasy after a recent AC Milan match, sparking rumours across the globe.

Beckham took the newspaper group to court, his lawyer saying the Daily Star allegations were untrue and defamatory. But Beckham was not in court when the verdict was announced.