KEY POINTS:
Sydneysiders gorged themselves on Becks-mania for a final day as the soccer megastar sent a message to Kiwi fans awaiting their fix: "I'm okay for Saturday."
The day after captivating a crowd of 80,295 at Telstra Stadium, David Beckham created more chaos as he launched his new fragrance
before hundreds of sweaty, screaming admirers at a Sydney department store.
Asked about the ankle injury which pained him early in the LA Galaxy's 5-3 loss to Sydney FC, Beckham gave promoters the good news ahead of his Wellington arrival for Saturday's game against the Phoenix.
"It's not too bad - a bit sore but I'll be fine for 'Noo Zealand'," he said.
Cue the screaming. Not that anything he told the hordes at the central city Myers store didn't lift the roof off.
It was more of the same on Tuesday night as Beckham braved the ankle injury which initially looked serious, then delighted the crowd with a brilliant goal from a trademark curling freekick.
He got in a tense scuffle with Sydney FC's Robbie Middleby which ended in a hug, and played a full 90 minutes to alleviate any fitness fears.
As he did a final lap, without his shirt which he swapped with Sydney's Brazilian star Juninho, two female admirers summed up their feelings with a banner: "Bend Me Beckham".
Eight Beckham photographs adorned the Daily Telegraph newspaper's match coverage.
Then yesterday at Myers, bouncers stood guard at the sixth-floor elevator, ushering people into an orderly queue.
About 2000 people had crammed in before MC Richard Wilkins emerged. When Beckham finally followed, girls screamed and charged forward, cameras flashing.
"It's honouring when you have that amount of people turn up for a football game. The amount of passion I've been shown has been incredible," said Beckham. The biggest cheer came when Beckham said he'd like to bring Posh Spice and the kids, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, for their first visit to Australia.
While promoters on either side of the Tasman, including Phoenix owner Terry Serepisos, have shelled out seven-figure amounts to lure Beckham, his sponsors have also got a huge piece of the action. Yesterday it was time for Brand Becks, namely Instinct, his new men's fragrance.
A chosen few kids who'd persuaded their parents to buy it, and had their names drawn, got to take to the stage, shake Becks' hand and receive a free LA Galaxy shirt.
Beckham and his Galaxy teammates were due fly to Wellington, with a 34,500 sellout predicted at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
- NZPA