David Beckham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Beckham OBE
Beckham in 2014
Born	(1975-05-02) 2 May 1975 (age 50) London, England
Occupation	Footballer Businessman
Organisation	UNICEF, Malaria No More
Agent	Simon Fuller (XIX Entertainment)
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Spouse(s)	Victoria Adams ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	4, including Brooklyn and Romeo
Relatives	Nicola Peltz (daughter-in-law)
David Beckham Personal information Playing position Midfielder Youth career Ridgeway Rovers 1987–1991 Tottenham Hotspur 1989–1991 → Brimsdown Rovers (loan) 1991–1994 Manchester United Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1992–2003 Manchester United 265 (62) 1995 → Preston North End (loan) 5 (2) 2003–2007 Real Madrid 116 (13) 2007–2012 LA Galaxy 98 (18) 2009 → AC Milan (loan) 18 (2) 2010 → AC Milan (loan) 11 (0) 2013 Paris Saint-Germain 10 (0) Total 523 (97) National team 1992–1993 England U18 3 (0) 1994–1996 England U21 9 (0) 1996–2009 England 115 (17) Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

David Robert Joseph Beckham (born 2 May 1975) is a famous English former footballer. He is also the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City. Beckham played mainly as a right winger. He was known for his amazing passes, crossing skills, and powerful free-kicks. Many people think he is one of the best midfielders and free-kick takers ever.

During his career, Beckham won 19 major trophies. He is the first English player to win league titles in four different countries: England, Spain, the United States, and France.

Beckham started his professional club career with Manchester United in 1992 when he was 17. With Manchester United, he won the Premier League six times and the FA Cup twice. He also won the UEFA Champions League in 1999. After that, he played for Real Madrid for four seasons, winning the La Liga title in his last year there.

In 2007, Beckham joined the Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy in the United States. While playing for the Galaxy, he also had two short loan spells with AC Milan in Italy. He was the first British footballer to play 100 UEFA Champions League games. After a short time at Paris Saint-Germain, he retired in May 2013, ending a 20-year career.

For his country, Beckham played for England for the first time on 1 September 1996, when he was 21. He was the captain for six years. He played in three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006) and two UEFA European Championships (2000, 2004). He played 115 games for England in total, which was a record for an outfield player until 2016.

Beckham is seen as a British icon and a global ambassador for football. He has been married to Victoria Beckham since 1999. He was often one of the highest-paid footballers in the world. In 2004, Pelé included him in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. He was added to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021. Since 2005, he has been a UNICEF ambassador. In 2015, he started 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund to help children. In 2014, he and a group of investors announced they would own Inter Miami, a new football club that started playing in 2020.

Early Life and Family

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born on 2 May 1975 in London, England. His mother, Sandra, was a hairdresser, and his father, Ted, was a kitchen fitter. They got married in 1969. David was given the middle name Robert to honor Bobby Charlton, his father's favorite footballer. He has an older sister, Lynne, and a younger sister, Joanne.

Beckham's great-grandmother on his mother's side was Jewish. Beckham has said he is "half Jewish" and that he had more contact with Judaism than other religions growing up. In his book, Both Feet on the Ground, he wrote that he went to church every week with his parents. This was the only way he could play football for their team.

His parents were huge fans of Manchester United. They often traveled 200 miles from London to watch the team play. David loved Manchester United just like them. He always wanted to be a footballer. When teachers asked what he wanted to be, he always said "a footballer."

David was a bit smaller than other kids his age. He wasn't chosen for the England Schoolboys' team because of his size. He went to one of Bobby Charlton's Soccer Schools. There, he won a chance to train with Barcelona.

He played for a local youth team called Ridgeway Rovers. His father helped coach the team. Beckham was a mascot for Manchester United in a match in 1986. He also had trials with other clubs like Leyton Orient and Norwich City. He went to Tottenham Hotspur's special training school. For two years, he played for Brimsdown Rovers' youth team. He was even named Under-15 Player of the Year in 1990. Beckham signed with Manchester United on his 14th birthday. He then signed a professional contract in 1991.

Club Football Career

Manchester United: Early Years and Success

David Beckham joined Manchester United as a trainee in 1991. He was part of a talented group of young players. This group included Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, and Paul Scholes. They were coached by Eric Harrison. This team won the FA Youth Cup in 1992. Beckham scored a goal in the final against Crystal Palace.

Beckham played his first game for the senior team on 23 September 1992. It was a League Cup match. He became a professional player in January 1993. In September 1994, he played his first full game for the first team. On 7 December 1994, Beckham made his UEFA Champions League debut. He scored a goal in a 4–0 win against Galatasaray.

Loan to Preston North End

In the 1994–95 season, Beckham went on loan to Preston North End. This was to get more experience playing in first-team matches. He scored two goals in five games. One of his goals was directly from a corner kick, which was very impressive.

Becoming a Regular Player

Beckham returned to Manchester United in 1995. He made his Premier League debut on 2 April 1995. The team finished second in the league that season. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson trusted his young players a lot. Beckham was part of a group known as "Fergie's Fledglings." These young players replaced older, more experienced ones. Many people criticized this decision at first.

However, the young team played very well. Beckham became a key player on the right side of midfield. He helped United win the Premier League title and the FA Cup in the 1995–96 season. He scored the winning goal in the FA Cup semi-final. He also provided the corner kick for the winning goal in the FA Cup Final.

The Famous Halfway Line Goal

At the start of the 1996–97 season, Beckham became very famous. On 17 August 1996, he scored a spectacular goal against Wimbledon. He shot the ball from the halfway line, about 57 yards away. The ball flew over the goalkeeper and into the net. This goal was voted one of the "100 Greatest Sporting Moments" in a UK poll.

Beckham became a regular starter for Manchester United. He helped them win the Premier League again. He was also voted PFA Young Player of the Year. Before the 1997–98 season, he was given the number 7 shirt. This number was worn by United legends like George Best and Eric Cantona.

Winning the Treble

In the 1998–99 season, Beckham was part of the United team that won the "treble." This means they won the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. This was a unique achievement in English football.

To win the Premier League, United needed to win their last game. Beckham scored a curving goal to help them win 2–1. He played in central midfield in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. United were losing 1–0 but scored two goals in injury time to win. Both goals came from corners taken by Beckham. His great performances led him to be runner-up for the 1999 Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

More Titles and Challenges

Beckham helped United win the Premier League again in 1999–2000. He scored five goals during the final 11 games of the season.

By the early 2000s, Beckham's relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson became difficult. In 2000, Beckham missed training to care for his sick son. But Ferguson was angry when Beckham's wife, Victoria, was seen at a fashion event that night. Ferguson fined Beckham and dropped him from a match. Beckham still had a good season and helped United win their third league title in a row in 2000–01.

In 2002, Beckham broke a bone in his left foot during a Champions League match. This injury kept him from playing for the rest of the season. United missed out on the Premier League title that year. However, he signed a new three-year contract. This made him the highest-paid player in the world at the time.

In 2003, his relationship with Ferguson got worse. After an FA Cup defeat, Ferguson accidentally kicked a boot that hit Beckham above the eye. This led to many rumors about Beckham leaving the club. He still scored eleven goals that season. On 13 June 2003, he was awarded an OBE for his services to football.

Beckham played 265 Premier League games for United, scoring 61 goals. He won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one European Cup, and one Intercontinental Cup.

Real Madrid: The Galáctico Era

In the summer of 2003, David Beckham joined Real Madrid in Spain. He signed a four-year contract. Beckham was the newest "Galácticos" player. This was a time when Real Madrid signed many global football stars. He chose to wear the number 23 shirt. This was because he admired basketball player Michael Jordan, who also wore number 23.

Beckham quickly became popular in Madrid. His jersey sales were huge. In late 2003, Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup. Beckham scored a goal in the final game. He played in a team with other famous players like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and Luís Figo. Beckham scored five goals in his first 16 games. He even scored less than three minutes into his first Spanish league game.

In his first season, Real Madrid finished fourth in the league. They also didn't win the Champions League. In October 2004, Beckham admitted he intentionally fouled a player in an England match to get a yellow card. He knew he would miss the next game due to injury, so he wanted to serve a suspension then. He later apologized for this.

Real Madrid finished second in the league in 2004–05 and 2005–06. Beckham continued to be a key player. He was third in the league for assists in 2005–06.

Leaving Real Madrid

In January 2007, Real Madrid announced that Beckham would leave the club at the end of the season. On 11 January 2007, Beckham said he had signed a five-year deal to play for the LA Galaxy in the United States.

At first, Real Madrid's coach, Fabio Capello, said Beckham had played his last game for the club. But about a month later, Capello changed his mind. He allowed Beckham to play again. Beckham scored an equalizing goal from a free kick in his first game back.

On 17 June 2007, Beckham played his final match for Real Madrid. They won 3–1 against Mallorca. This victory helped Real Madrid win the La Liga title, their first since Beckham joined. Beckham was replaced due to injury during the game. His family and celebrity friends like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes watched from the stadium.

After Beckham left, Forbes magazine reported that he was responsible for a huge increase in Real Madrid's merchandise sales. This was reported to be over US$600 million during his four years at the club.

LA Galaxy: Moving to America

Beckham's move to Major League Soccer (MLS) and the LA Galaxy was announced in January 2007. This news made headlines around the world. Many thought the deal was worth US$250 million. However, it was later revealed that this huge number included all his potential earnings from endorsements. His actual contract with the Galaxy was US$32.5 million over five years.

The signing brought a lot of attention to the MLS. The Galaxy got a new sponsorship deal and sold many new season tickets. Beckham's contract also had a special clause. It allowed him to buy an MLS expansion team for a fixed price of $25 million after he stopped playing.

Beckham officially joined the Galaxy on 11 July 2007. He was introduced to fans and media at the Home Depot Center. He chose to wear the number 23 shirt again. Before he even played, over 250,000 Galaxy jerseys with his name were sold.

His arrival in the US was a big media event. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He also appeared in many advertisements. On 21 July, Beckham made his Galaxy debut in a friendly match against Chelsea. He came on as a substitute in the 78th minute. Many Hollywood celebrities were there to watch.

Beckham's first start for the Galaxy was on 15 August in a SuperLiga semi-final. He scored his first goal for the team from a free kick. He also made his first assist. However, he injured his right knee during the SuperLiga final. This kept him out for six weeks. The Galaxy did not make the playoffs that season.

Loan Spells and MLS Cup Wins

In 2009, Beckham went on loan to AC Milan in Italy. He wanted to stay fit for the World Cup qualifying matches. He played well for Milan, scoring two goals in his first four games. He wanted to stay in Milan permanently, but the clubs couldn't agree on a price. So, his loan was extended until mid-July.

When he returned to the Galaxy, some fans were upset that he missed the first half of the season. But the Galaxy had a much better season. They won the 2009 Western Conference final. In the MLS Cup final, they lost in a penalty shootout.

Beckham returned to Milan for a second loan in January 2010. He played against Manchester United for the first time since leaving in 2003. He received a warm welcome from the fans at Old Trafford. However, in Milan's next game, he tore his left Achilles tendon. This serious injury meant he missed the World Cup and the rest of the 2010 MLS season.

He returned to the Galaxy in September 2010. He scored a free kick goal in October. The Galaxy won the Western Conference title and the Supporters' Shield.

In 2011, Beckham had his best season with the Galaxy. He helped them win their third MLS Cup against the Houston Dynamo. This meant he had won league titles in three different countries.

After the 2011 season, his contract with the Galaxy ended. He signed a new two-year deal to stay in Los Angeles. In May 2012, Beckham and his teammates visited President of the United States Barack Obama at the White House.

Beckham helped the Galaxy win the MLS Cup again in 2012. He announced that the 2012 MLS Cup Final would be his last game with the Galaxy. He was given a standing ovation by the fans.

Paris Saint-Germain: Final Club

On 31 January 2013, Beckham signed a five-month deal with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France. He announced that his entire salary from PSG would be donated to a local children's charity.

His PSG debut was on 24 February 2013. On 12 May 2013, Beckham won his fourth different top league title. PSG beat Lyon to win the Ligue 1 title.

On 16 May 2013, Beckham announced he would retire from professional football. In his final home game against Brest, he was made captain. He assisted a goal from a corner. Beckham was substituted after 80 minutes and received a standing ovation. PSG won the game 3–1.

International Football Career

David Beckham played his first game for England on 1 September 1996. It was a FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

1998 FIFA World Cup

Beckham played in all of England's qualifying games for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. However, the team's manager, Glenn Hoddle, said he wasn't focused. So, Beckham didn't start in the first two games. He played in the third game against Colombia and scored his first goal for England. It was a fantastic bending 30-yard free kick.

In the next round, he received a red card against Argentina. Beckham kicked Diego Simeone after being fouled. England lost the match in a penalty shootout. Many people blamed Beckham for England's loss. He faced a lot of criticism.

England Captaincy and Hero Status

The criticism from English fans continued during UEFA Euro 2000. However, Beckham helped England qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He played a big part in a 5–1 win over Germany.

On 15 November 2000, Beckham was made England captain. This was a big change for him. He became a national hero in England's final qualifying game against Greece in 2001. England needed to win or draw to qualify for the World Cup. They were losing 2–1 with little time left. Beckham scored a curving free-kick, securing England's spot in the World Cup. He was voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2001.

World Cups and European Championships

Beckham was not fully fit for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. But he played in the first match. He scored the winning goal with a penalty against Argentina. England beat Denmark in the second round. They were knocked out by Brazil in the quarter-finals.

Beckham played in all of England's matches at UEFA Euro 2004. He missed a penalty in a shootout against Portugal. England lost the shootout and were out of the competition.

In October 2005, Beckham was sent off against Austria. This made him the first England captain to be sent off. He captained England for the 50th time the next month.

2006 FIFA World Cup and Beyond

In England's first game at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Beckham's free kick led to a goal. In the next match, his cross led to a goal by Peter Crouch. He also assisted another goal. He was named Man of the Match.

During the second round against Ecuador, Beckham scored from a free kick. This made him the first English player to score in three different World Cups. England won 1–0. In the quarter-final against Portugal, Beckham was injured and substituted. England lost the match on penalties. Beckham was very emotional after being taken off.

A day after England's exit, Beckham announced he was stepping down as England captain. He said it was an honor to lead his country. He wanted to pass the armband to a new leader. John Terry became the new captain.

After the World Cup, new England coach Steve McClaren dropped Beckham from the team. McClaren said he wanted to go in a "different direction." However, on 26 May 2007, McClaren called Beckham back to the squad. Beckham played well against Brazil and Estonia, providing key assists.

On 20 March 2008, Beckham was called up again by new coach Fabio Capello. On 26 March, Beckham became only the fifth Englishman to play 100 games for his country. He was honored before the match and received a gold cap. He played well and assisted a goal.

In June 2008, Capello made Beckham captain again for a friendly match. This showed how much his standing had changed. Beckham continued to play for England. In 2009, he broke Bobby Moore's record for the most caps (appearances) for an English outfield player. He earned his 108th cap.

His last game for England was on 14 October 2009. He played 115 games for England in total. In March 2010, his Achilles tendon injury meant he could not play in the 2010 World Cup. After the World Cup, Capello said he needed new, younger players for the future. He suggested Beckham might play one more friendly game to say goodbye to the fans. Beckham said he would always be available to play for England if needed.

Playing Style and Training

David Beckham was known as one of the best and most recognizable players of his time. He was also one of the greatest free-kick takers ever. He is tied for 5th all-time in goals scored from direct free kicks with 65. Many experts also rate him as one of the best wide midfielders.

Beckham was mainly right-footed. His amazing passing, vision, crossing ability, and bending free-kicks helped him create chances and score goals. He was excellent as a right winger. He wasn't super fast, but he used his movement and passing to beat defenders. He had a great partnership with his Manchester United teammate Gary Neville on the right side of the field.

While he mostly played on the right, Beckham also played as a central midfielder. Sometimes, especially later in his career, he played as a deep-lying playmaker. This helped him make up for losing some speed as he got older. Beckham felt his best role was on the right, but he personally preferred playing in the middle.

Besides his passing and set-piece skills, Beckham was also known for his stamina and hard work in defense. He was a good striker of the ball from far away and a good penalty taker. People also praised his ball control, ability to find space, and his determination.

Dedication to Training

Beckham was known for his incredible work ethic. Sir Alex Ferguson said Beckham "practised with a discipline to achieve an accuracy that other players wouldn't care about." Beckham reportedly spent hours practicing his free kicks after training.

Even when things were tough with his managers, Beckham always stayed professional. His Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos said Beckham was the best free-kick taker he had ever seen. Roberto Carlos said, "I wanted to see Beckham take the free-kick because it's beautiful how he hits the ball."

His former England manager Steve McClaren said Beckham "made the very most of his talents and that was through sheer hard work, professionalism, always doing extra on the training field." He added that Beckham "inspired his team-mates through his performances, he was a winner. He was a leader, people followed him."

When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Beckham said, "I just want people to see me as a hardworking footballer, someone that's passionate about the game, someone that – every time I stepped on the pitch – I've given everything that I have."

Discipline on the Field

Earlier in his career, Beckham sometimes had problems with his temper during matches. He would sometimes make quick tackles and get unnecessary yellow or red cards. Beckham was the first England player to get two red cards. He was also the first England captain to be sent off.

His most famous red card was at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. After being fouled, Beckham kicked out at the Argentine midfielder, Diego Simeone. Simeone fell dramatically. Simeone later admitted he overreacted to try and get Beckham sent off.

Between 2000 and 2013, Beckham played 572 competitive games. He received nine red cards during this time.

Football Business Ventures

David Beckham Academy

In 2005, Beckham started the David Beckham Academy. These were football schools in London and Los Angeles. Both academies closed in late 2009.

Inter Miami CF

On 5 February 2014, MLS announced that Beckham would buy an MLS expansion team. This was part of his contract with the LA Galaxy. The team, based in Miami, was hoped to start playing in 2016 or 2017. After delays with getting a stadium, the team was approved in January 2018. They started playing in 2020. The team is called Club Internacional de Futbol Miami, or Inter Miami. Their logo has black and neon pink colors with herons.

Salford City F.C.

In January 2019, Beckham joined his former Manchester United teammates as a part-owner of Salford City. This is an English non-league club. He took 10% of the club. The Football Association approved him as a director of the club on 31 January.

Personal Life

In 1997, David Beckham started dating Victoria Adams. She was famous as "Posh Spice" from the pop group Spice Girls. Their relationship quickly became very popular with the media. They were called "Posh and Becks." He asked her to marry him on 24 January 1998.

They got married on 4 July 1999 in Ireland. Beckham's teammate Gary Neville was the best man. Their four-month-old son, Brooklyn, was the ring bearer. The wedding was kept private, but photos of them sitting on golden thrones were later published.

David and Victoria have four children:

• Sons: Brooklyn Joseph (born 1999), Romeo James (born 2002), and Cruz David (born 2005).
• Daughter: Harper Seven (born 2011).

Elton John and David Furnish are godparents to Brooklyn and Romeo. Their godmother is Elizabeth Hurley. Cruz and Harper were baptized Catholic. Eva Longoria and Marc Anthony are among their godparents.

Beckham's three sons have all played football in the Arsenal academy. Brooklyn and Romeo have also done modeling work.

In 1999, after his wedding, David and Victoria bought a country house in Hertfordshire. The media nicknamed it "Beckingham Palace." They sold the property in 2014.

Victoria Beckham gave David the nickname "Golden Balls." She revealed it on TV in 2008. Beckham has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). He says it makes him want "everything in a straight line or everything has to be in pairs." Victoria said their fridge is very organized, with everything symmetrical.

Beckham is a big supporter of the monarchy. In September 2022, he queued for 12 hours to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state.

Since 2020, David Beckham has been involved in beekeeping, animal husbandry, and farming at his barn in the Cotswolds.

Tattoos

As of 2021, Beckham has over 65 tattoos on his body. These include tattoos on his hands, neck, and head. He has the names of his sons and his wife Victoria tattooed on him. His wife's name is on his left forearm in the Devanagari script. He thought it would be "tacky" to have it in English. However, it was misspelled.

In his autobiography, Beckham said he started getting tattoos in 1999 after his son Brooklyn was born. He said, "When you see me, you see the tattoos. You see an expression of how I feel about Victoria and the boys. They're part of me." He has tattoos that honor his daughter, Harper, and some with religious meaning. Many of his tattoos were done by artist Louis Molloy.

Celebrity and Endorsements

David Beckham's marriage to Victoria, a member of the Spice Girls, made him a huge celebrity beyond football. He became known as a fashion icon. Together, "Posh and Becks" became popular spokespeople for clothing, health, and beauty brands. Early deals included a £4 million contract with Brylcreem in 1997.

In 2002, he was called the ultimate "metrosexual." His different hairstyles, like a buzz cut, a Mohawk, and a ponytail, were often talked about in the media.

Beckham has many endorsement deals. This makes him one of the most recognizable athletes globally. He has worn Adidas football boots since the start of his career. In 2003, he signed a US$160 million lifetime contract with Adidas. He also had a 10-year deal with PepsiCo. He has promoted The Walt Disney Company theme parks. In 2021, he became a global ambassador for Maserati.

Beckham has his own video games, like Go! Go! Beckham! Adventure on Soccer Island. He was also on the cover of the UK edition of FIFA 98. During his playing career, Beckham generated an estimated £1 billion in jersey and boot sales. In 2006, Lloyd's of London insured his legs for £100 million.

Beckham played a big role in bringing the Olympics to London in 2012. He traveled with the British team to Singapore for the host city selection. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics closing ceremony, Beckham, Jimmy Page, and Leona Lewis represented Britain. Beckham rode a London double-decker bus into the stadium. He also carried the Olympic flame by speedboat to the stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

In May 2010, Beckham visited British troops fighting in Afghanistan to boost their morale. Chinese authorities made Beckham a global ambassador for Chinese football in March 2013. His role was to help improve the image of the game in China.

In March 2015, Beckham had the third-highest social media rank among sportspeople worldwide. He has over 80 million Instagram followers.

During the 2016 EU referendum, Beckham said he was against Brexit. He believed that countries should face global problems together. In March 2019, his former club LA Galaxy unveiled a statue of him outside their stadium. In June 2020, Beckham became a part-owner of the esports organization Guild Esports. In November 2020, EA Sports signed a deal with Beckham to feature him in FIFA 21.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

David Beckham has supported UNICEF since his time at Manchester United. In January 2005, he became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. He focuses on their Sports for Development program. In 2012, he met with UK Prime Minister David Cameron to ask for more help for children suffering from malnutrition.

In 2015, Beckham launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund. This fund helps protect children in danger. He visited Cambodia in June 2015 to meet child victims of violence. Beckham also supports the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign. He used to be a patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 2013, he donated his entire £3.4 million salary from Paris Saint-Germain to two children's charities in France. He also supports Help For Heroes, a charity that helps soldiers injured in wars.

On 17 January 2007, Beckham made a surprise phone call to Rebecca Johnstone, a 19-year-old cancer patient. He also sent her a signed Real Madrid jersey. On 1 July 2007, Beckham spoke at the Concert for Diana. This concert celebrated the life of Princess Diana.

Beckham is a founding member of the Malaria No More UK Leadership Council. He helped launch the charity in 2009. He also appeared in a public service announcement for Malaria No More U.S. In November 2014, Beckham designed a Paddington Bear statue. This was part of an event to raise money for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Since joining Major League Soccer, Beckham has been a strong supporter of charities like "MLS W.O.R.K.S." In August 2007, he held a youth clinic in Harlem. He taught football skills to disadvantaged youth.

Film Appearances

David Beckham did not personally appear in the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham, except in old video clips. He and his wife wanted to be in the movie, but their schedules didn't allow it. So, a lookalike was used instead.

Beckham made a small appearance with Zinedine Zidane and Raúl in the 2005 film Goal!. He had a bigger role in the sequel, Goal II: Living the Dream. The story was about the Real Madrid team, and other Madrid players also appeared. Beckham also appeared in Goal III: Taking on the World using old footage from the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

In 2013, a British magazine said his "acting skills" were "somewhat limited." Through his friendship with director Guy Ritchie, he has made two small film appearances. He was a projectionist in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and played Trigger in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Artist Sam Taylor-Johnson filmed Beckham sleeping in a hotel room in 2004. This film was shown at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2020	Modern Family	Himself	Episode: "The Prescott"
2023	Beckham	Himself	4 episodes on Netflix

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester United	1992–93	Premier League	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	–		1	0
	1993–94	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1994–95	Premier League	4	0	2	0	3	0	1	1	0	0	10	1
	1995–96	Premier League	33	7	3	1	2	0	2	0	–		40	8
	1996–97	Premier League	36	8	2	1	0	0	10	2	1	1	49	12
	1997–98	Premier League	37	9	4	2	0	0	8	0	1	0	50	11
	1998–99	Premier League	34	6	7	1	1	0	12	2	1	0	55	9
	1999–2000	Premier League	31	6	–		0	0	12	2	5	0	48	8
	2000–01	Premier League	31	9	2	0	0	0	12	0	1	0	46	9
	2001–02	Premier League	28	11	1	0	0	0	13	5	1	0	43	16
	2002–03	Premier League	31	6	3	1	5	1	13	3	–		52	11
	Total		265	62	24	6	12	1	83	15	10	1	394	85
Preston North End (loan)	1994–95	Third Division	5	2	0	0	0	0	–		0	0	5	2
Real Madrid	2003–04	La Liga	32	3	4	2	–		7	1	2	1	45	7
	2004–05	La Liga	30	4	0	0	–		8	0	–		38	4
	2005–06	La Liga	31	3	3	1	–		7	1	–		41	5
	2006–07	La Liga	23	3	2	1	–		6	0	–		31	4
	Total		116	13	9	4	–		28	2	2	1	155	20
LA Galaxy	2007	Major League Soccer	5	0	0	0	–		–		2	1	7	1
	2008	Major League Soccer	25	5	0	0	–		–		0	0	25	5
	2009	Major League Soccer	11	2	0	0	–		–		4	0	15	2
	2010	Major League Soccer	7	2	0	0	–		–		3	0	10	2
	2011	Major League Soccer	26	2	0	0	–		–		4	0	30	2
	2012	Major League Soccer	24	7	0	0	–		1	1	6	0	31	8
	Total		98	18	0	0	–		1	1	19	1	118	20
AC Milan (loan)	2008–09	Serie A	18	2	0	0	–		2	0	–		20	2
	2009–10	Serie A	11	0	0	0	–		2	0	–		13	0
	Total		29	2	0	0	–		4	0	–		33	2
Paris Saint-Germain	2012–13	Ligue 1	10	0	2	0	–		2	0	–		14	0
Career total			523	97	35	10	12	1	118	18	31	3	719	129

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
England	1996	3	0
	1997	9	0
	1998	8	1
	1999	7	0
	2000	10	0
	2001	10	5
	2002	9	3
	2003	9	4
	2004	12	2
	2005	9	1
	2006	8	1
	2007	5	0
	2008	8	0
	2009	8	0
Total		115	17

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Beckham goal.

List of international goals scored by David Beckham

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	26 June 1998	Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France	17	Colombia	2–0	2–0	1998 FIFA World Cup
2	24 March 2001	Anfield, Liverpool, England	39	Finland	2–1	2–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	25 May 2001	Pride Park, Derby England	41	Mexico	3–0	4–0	Friendly
4	6 June 2001	Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece	42	Greece	2–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	6 October 2001	Old Trafford, Manchester, England	46	Greece	2–2	2–2	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	10 November 2001	Old Trafford, Manchester, England	47	Sweden	1–0	1–1	Friendly
7	7 June 2002	Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan	51	Argentina	1–0	1–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
8	12 October 2002	Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia	55	Slovakia	1–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
9	16 October 2002	St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England	56	Macedonia	1–1	2–2	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
10	29 March 2003	Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein	58	Liechtenstein	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
11	2 April 2003	Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England	59	Turkey	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
12	20 August 2003	Portman Road, Ipswich, England	61	Croatia	1–0	3–1	Friendly
13	6 September 2003	Skopje City Stadium, Skopje, Macedonia	62	Macedonia	2–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
14	18 August 2004	St James' Park, Newcastle, England	73	Ukraine	1–0	3–0	Friendly
15	9 October 2004	Old Trafford, Manchester, England	76	Wales	2–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
16	30 March 2005	St James' Park, Newcastle, England	80	Azerbaijan	2–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
17	25 June 2006	Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart, Germany	93	Ecuador	1–0	1–0	2006 FIFA World Cup

Honours and Awards

Manchester United

• Premier League: 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03
• FA Cup: 1995–96, 1998–99
• FA Charity Shield: 1996, 1997
• UEFA Champions League: 1998–99
• Intercontinental Cup: 1999

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2006–07
• Supercopa de España: 2003

LA Galaxy

• MLS Cup: 2011, 2012
  • Western Conference (regular season): 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Western Conference (playoffs): 2009, 2011, 2012
• Supporters' Shield: 2010, 2011

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2012–13

England

• Tournoi de France: 1997

Individual Awards

• Ballon d'Or runner-up: 1999
• FIFA World Player of the Year silver award: 1999, 2001
• Most assists in the Premier League: 1997–98, 1999–2000 (shared), 2000–01
• Premier League Player of the Month: August 1996
• PFA Young Player of the Year: 1996–97
• FWA Tribute Award: 2008
• Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 1996–97
• England Player of the Year: 2003
• ESM Team of the Year: 1998–99
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 1998–99
• UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year: 1998–99
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2001, 2003
• Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2001–02):
  • Domestic & Overall Team of the Decade
  • Goal of the Decade (vs. Wimbledon, 17 August 1996)
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2001
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award: 2010
• Real Madrid Player of the Year: 2005–06
• PFA Team of the Year: 1996–97 Premier League, 1997–98 Premier League, 1998–99 Premier League, 1999–2000 Premier League
• FIFA 100
• ESPY Awards:
  • Best Male Soccer Player: 2004
  • Best MLS Player: 2008, 2012
• English Football Hall of Fame: 2008
• Premier League Hall of Fame: 2021
• MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award: 2011
• PFA Team of the Century (1997–2007): 2007
• International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) Legends
• UEFA President's Award: 2018

Orders and Special Awards

• Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II: 2003
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador (2005–present)
• "Britain's Greatest Ambassador" – 100 Greatest Britons awards
• The Celebrity 100, number 15 – Forbes, 2007
• Number 1 on the list of the 40 most influential men under the age of 40 in the UK – Arena, 2007
• Time 100: 2008
• Gold Blue Peter Badge winner, 2001
• Do Something Athlete Award, 2011
• AC Milan Hall of Fame

Records

• First Englishman to win league titles in four countries (England, Spain, United States, France).
• First England player to score at three FIFA World Cups.
• First British footballer to play 100 UEFA Champions League games.
• Most free-kicks scored in the Premier League: 18.
• Most free-kicks scored in a Premier League season: 5 in 2000-01

Images for kids

• 

  Beckham warming up with Real Madrid in 2006

• 

  Beckham during an LA Galaxy game in 2007

• 

  Beckham playing for LA Galaxy in 2008

• 

  Beckham scoring with a bending free-kick in 2007. His typical pose when striking free-kicks or crossing the ball in open play, his body leans to the left to generate extra whip on the ball.

• 

  Beckham with Miss Vietnam Trần Tiểu Vy at the Paris Motor Show 2018

• 

  Beckham Academy in London

• 

  Beckham appearing in a 2021 Soccer Aid for UNICEF video

See Also

In Spanish: David Beckham para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
• Designated Player Rule (Beckham Rule)
• List of select Jewish footballers