What happened to David Batty, who shook off penalty miss against Argentina?
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- David Batty missed a penalty in the 1998 World Cup last-16 shootout against Argentina, saved by goalkeeper Carlos Roa, but walked off the pitch with his head held high rather than collapsing
- Batty turned down a fast food advert campaign that wanted to make light of his penalty miss, telling his agent Hayden Evans he wouldn't profit from the disappointment of fans who had travelled to France
- Batty retired from football in 2004 and has since vanished from the sport entirely — former Leeds teammates including Rio Ferdinand and Mark Viduka couldn't even reach him for his 57th birthday because he wasn't in their WhatsApp group
- Batty was part of both Leeds United's 1992 title triumph and Blackburn Rovers' 1995 Premier League title, but declined to collect his Blackburn medal because he'd missed most of the season injured and felt for Mark Atkins who had filled in
- Batty commuted from his family home in Yorkshire throughout his time at Blackburn and Newcastle, often leaving training early to be with his kids, and has stayed there in quiet retirement ever since
- Wild rumors have spread that Batty became a superbike champion under a fake name, trained as a master butcher, or lives off-grid in a caravan — but his agent says he is simply a 'dedicated family man' doing 'none of the things he doesn't want to do'
Why it matters: As England prepare to face Argentina again in the 2026 World Cup semi-final on July 15, this profile reframes one of England's most painful footballing moments into a portrait of rare authenticity: Batty refused commercial opportunities out of respect for supporters and walked away from football entirely. His former teammates' inability to contact him two decades after retirement shows how thoroughly he meant it — a cult status earned through absence, not presence.
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