Luke Littler came second at the prestigious BBC's Sports Personality of the Year awards last weekend. It wasn't all bad though, as he secured the Young Sports Personality of the Year award and received a very significant new follower on social media.
Littler received a message from football icon David Beckham ahead of the award show to wish him well, but revealed that the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Paris St Germain and LA Galaxy player hadn't yet actually followed 'The Nuke' back on social media. "He's not followed me though," said Littler on the BBC show, as he addressed the text he received from Beckham, which he admitted was a "pinch me" moment.
Afterwards though, it seemed as if Beckham had taken the hint. Littler proudly posted a screenshot of his Instagram followers showing that Beckham had finally followed him back. Littler is in esteemed company now too as Beckham currently only follows 635 people - with one of them now being the teenage darting sensation.
Littler also commented briefly on his second place finish in the awards show. He said: "It just goes to show how well I've done this year. But not only for myself changed the sport of darts [with] all the other professionals. But I have played a big part in it."
For Littler, the quest for a first world title begins this weekend at the Alexandra Palace. The 17-year-old returns his focus to darts as he takes on Ryan Meikle in the second round of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, after 'The Barber' denied Fallon Sherrock in a deciding set earlier this week. Littler is widely seen as one of the two big favourites to life the Sid Waddell Trophy, alongside Luke Humphries, and will no doubt be looking to put down an early marker when he takes on Meikle.
First SPOTY✅ and taking home 2 trophies🙏🏼 huge honour for me to win young sports personality of the year and finish 2nd for sports personality. support this year has been amazing and want to say thank you to everyone who voted and sent messages❤️ pic.twitter.com/jQfyLnpFcW
— Luke Littler (@LukeTheNuke180) December 17, 2024