Debate: what will be Beckham's legacy?

David Beckham was on the pitch for only a couple of minutes, and half a dozen touches, but it was anything but a meaningless appearance in Minsk as far as he was concerned. Every little cameo counts as he closes in on Bobby Moore's 108 caps, a milestone that the former England captain will reach if he plays a part in next month's friendly against Germany in Berlin.

Fabio Capello will regard it as an utter irrelevance but Beckham's ability to provoke extremes of love and loathing have ensured that this catching of Moore will be kicked around the debating chamber in the run-up to the match on November 19.

His critics argue that personal milestones are now his only obsession. The most outspoken of them go as far as to say that it is a heresy that Beckham should have passed Sir Bobby Charlton's 106 caps and now stands within one cap of equalling Moore, England's World Cup-winning captain, an iconic figure and the most capped outfield player for the national team. Only Peter Shilton, with 125 caps, has appeared more for England.

It is true that Beckham, unlike Charlton or Moore, has never touched the World Cup and is unlikely to do so, given that he will be 35 a month before the next tournament in South Africa and in his fourth season with the LA Galaxy. England, for all the improvement under Capello, will not travel as favourites in any case. But Beckham will take enormous pride in the achievement of equalling Moore.

A couple of minutes off the bench against Belarus, his fourth consecutive appearance as a substitute, may not amount to much, but not every game that Moore played in was a World Cup final either. The centre half's international career came to an inglorious end, a poor showing against Poland in a World Cup qualifier in Chorzow in June 1973 costing him his place in Alf Ramsey's team. He was on the bench for the return at Wembley in October, when England failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, and played only once more, in a friendly against Italy at Wembley a month later, in which Capello scored the only goal.

In his Indian summer, Beckham has a peripheral role in England's revival under Capello but he is playing his part nevertheless. The Italian regards him as a useful option off the bench, a rarity in the squad in his ability to protect possession, and pick out a pass, when the clock is running down.

In the ten minutes against Kazakhstan on Saturday, he still demonstrated a technique that is the envy of many of his team-mates. In the perfection of its height, speed and timing, one cross to Emile Heskey was a reminder of the long hours of practice to which Beckham dedicated himself as a teenager.

Capello's promise to experiment with youngsters does raise the issue of whether the Moore milestone will be reached and, as Beckham knows better than most, the Italian is not given to sentimentality. Beckham must have thought that the chance had slipped by against Belarus when Theo Walcott made way for Shaun Wright-Phillips. Then, presumably to waste time as much as bolster the midfield, Capello signalled for Beckham to replace Wayne Rooney.

If nothing else, his longevity is reward for perseverance. It is also an acknowledgement that Beckham has adapted to life on the fringes of the squad, happy to let others dominate the dressing-room while he has a quiet word with the young pretenders.

Beckham had expected to be consigned to history by now but his rivals have only impressed fitfully. At 19, Walcott has youth as a valid excuse for looking a little immature in his defensive work in Minsk. At that age, his progress will not be smooth but he remains a thrilling asset for Capello.

Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor may be given opportunities in the next couple of England friendlies and, as he tries to stay involved, Beckham will not be helped by the long winter break of the MLS, which starts next month. In January he trained with Arsenal for a fortnight but, even if he is included against Germany, it is most unlikely that he will be selected for the friendly against Spain in February.

Ever the pragmatist, Capello will make the judgment based on his own requirements. When Beckham won his 100th cap against France, there was a notable lack of ceremony. He will not expect any different if he catches Moore in Berlin.