Editing David Beckham (section)

{{Short description|English footballer (born 1975)}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = David Beckham
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
| image              = David Beckham UNICEF (cropped2).jpg
| caption            = Beckham in 2021
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1975|5|2|df=y}}
| birth_place        = London, England
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
*[[Association football|Footballer]] 
*Businessman}}
| organisation       = [[UNICEF]], [[Malaria No More]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.malarianomore.org.uk/ |title=Malaria No More |work=malarianomore.org.uk |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-date=19 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219182047/https://www.malarianomore.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| agent              = [[Simon Fuller]] ([[XIX Entertainment]])
| height             = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psg.fr/en/First-Team/300002/Player-sheet/3122/Beckham-David|title=David Beckham|publisher=Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423054800/http://www.psg.fr/en/First-Team/300002/Player-sheet/3122/Beckham-David|archive-date=23 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/331/David-Beckham/overview|title=David Beckham: Overview|publisher=Premier League|access-date=16 July 2022|archive-date=15 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415212720/https://www.premierleague.com/players/331/David-Beckham/overview|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/david-beckham/|title=David Beckham|publisher=Major League Soccer|access-date=16 July 2022|archive-date=16 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716110352/https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/david-beckham/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Victoria Beckham|Victoria Adams]]|4 July 1999}}
| children           = 4, including [[Brooklyn Beckham|Brooklyn]] and [[Romeo Beckham|Romeo]]
| relatives          = [[Nicola Peltz]] (daughter-in-law)
| website            = {{URL|davidbeckham.com}}
| module             = {{Infobox football biography
 | embed            = yes
| header-color = #b0c4de 
 | position         = [[Midfielder]]
| youthyears1     = |youthclubs1 = Ridgeway Rovers
| youthyears2     = 1987–1991 |youthclubs2 = [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Under-23s and Academy|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| youthyears3     = 1989–1991 |youthclubs3 = → [[Brimsdown Rovers F.C.|Brimsdown Rovers]] (loan)
| youthyears4     = 1991–1994 |youthclubs4 = [[Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy|Manchester United]]
| years1          = 1992–2003 |clubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]          |caps1 = 265 |goals1 = 62
| years2          = 1995      |clubs2 = → [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] (loan) |caps2 = 5   |goals2 = 2
| years3          = 2003–2007 |clubs3 = [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]                        |caps3 = 116 |goals3 = 13
| years4          = 2007–2012 |clubs4 = [[LA Galaxy]]                                         |caps4 = 98  |goals4 = 18
| years5          = 2009      |clubs5 = → [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] (loan)                   |caps5 = 18  |goals5 = 2<!--SEPARATE LOANS-->
| years6          = 2010      |clubs6 = → [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] (loan)                   |caps6 = 11  |goals6 = 0<!--SEPARATE LOANS-->
| years7          = 2013      |clubs7 = [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]      |caps7 = 10  |goals7 = 0
| totalcaps       = 523 |totalgoals = 97
| nationalyears1  = 1992–1993 |nationalteam1 = [[England national under-18 football team|England U18]] |nationalcaps1 = 3   |nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2  = 1994–1996 |nationalteam2 = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] |nationalcaps2 = 9   |nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3  = 1996–2009 |nationalteam3 = [[England national football team|England]]              |nationalcaps3 = 115 |nationalgoals3 = 17
}}
}}

'''David Robert Joseph Beckham''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɛ|k|əm}} {{respell|BEK|əm}};<ref>{{citation|last=Wells|first=John C.|year=2008|title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary|edition=3rd|publisher=Longman|isbn=9781405881180}}</ref> born 2 May 1975) is an English former professional [[Association football|footballer]], the president and co-owner of [[Inter Miami CF]] and co-owner of [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47077888 |title=David Beckham: Salford City directorship approved by Football Association |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=24 June 2019 |archive-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022160001/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47077888 |url-status=live }}</ref> Primarily a [[right winger]] and known for his range of passing, [[Cross (association football)|crossing]] ability and [[Free kick (association football)|free-kick]] taking, Beckham is considered one of the best players of his generation, one of the greatest players in Premier League history and one of the best free-kick takers of all time.<ref name="Beckham best generation">{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Matt |date=16 May 2013 |title=David Beckham was one of best and most significant footballers of his generation |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/david-beckham-was-one-of-best-and-most-significant-footballers-of-his-generation-sj08rbfx9g5 |access-date=1 September 2019 |archive-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901190943/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/david-beckham-was-one-of-best-and-most-significant-footballers-of-his-generation-sj08rbfx9g5 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="best freekick takers history">{{cite web |last1=Lara |first1=Lorenzo |last2=Mogollo |first2=Álvaro |last3=Wilson |first3=Emily |date=20 September 2018 |title=Messi and the other best freekick takers in football history |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2018/09/20/5ba2969c268e3e35188b45ad.html |access-date=1 September 2019 |work=Marca |location=Spain |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610214908/https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2018/09/20/5ba2969c268e3e35188b45ad.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="fourfourtwo">{{cite news|last=|first=|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/101-greatest-football-players-last-25-years-full-list|title=Ranked! The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years: full list|edition=253|work=[[FourFourTwo]]|date=13 February 2018|accessdate=22 December 2023|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928145722/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/101-greatest-football-players-last-25-years-full-list|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=White |first=Mark |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-100-best-premier-league-players-ever/4|title=Ranked! The 100 best Premier League players ever|publisher=FourFourTwo|date=25 March 2025|accessdate=25 March 2025}}</ref> He won 19 major trophies in his career, and is the first English player to win league titles in four different countries: England, Spain, the United States and France.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/16/david-beckham-retires-stats-numbers |title=David Beckham: his club and international career in stats |work=The Guardian |accessdate=20 September 2015 |archive-date=7 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807022557/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/16/david-beckham-retires-stats-numbers |url-status=live }}</ref>

Beckham's professional club career began with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], where he made his first-team debut in 1992 at age 17.<ref name="galaxybio">{{Cite news|title=Los Angeles Galaxy: Player bio |url=http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?player=beckham_d&playerId=bec369464&statType=current&team=t106 |publisher=LA Galaxy |date=9 September 2008 |access-date=9 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028224000/http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t106&player=beckham_d&playerId=bec369464&statType=current |archive-date=28 October 2008 }}</ref> With United, he won the [[Premier League]] title six times, the [[FA Cup]] twice, the [[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]] twice, the [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]] and the [[UEFA Champions League]] in 1999.<ref name="galaxybio"/> He then played four seasons with [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Beckham joins Real Madrid |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/2998868.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=18 September 2003 |access-date=9 September 2008 |archive-date=26 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226115729/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/2998868.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> winning the [[La Liga]] title in his final season with the club.<ref>{{cite news |title=Beckham bows out with Liga title |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6759697.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=17 June 2007 |access-date=9 September 2008 |archive-date=17 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217013123/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6759697.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract with [[Major League Soccer]] club [[LA Galaxy]];<ref name="Bandini">{{Cite news |first=Paolo |last=Bandini |title=Beckham confirms LA Galaxy move |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/continentalfootball/story/0,,1988215,00.html |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=11 January 2007 |access-date=10 May 2007 |archive-date=24 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724031720/http://football.guardian.co.uk/continentalfootball/story/0,,1988215,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> it was widely cited as a historic transfer for football in America.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-28 |title=David Beckham's signing with Galaxy made lasting impact on MLS |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/story/2020-02-28/david-beckham-signing-with-the-galaxy-made-lasting-impact-on-mls |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> While a Galaxy player, he spent two loan spells in Italy with [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] in 2009 and 2010, and became the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League games.<ref name="galaxybio" /> He returned to Galaxy and won the [[MLS Cup]] in [[2011 Major League Soccer season|2011]] and [[2012 Major League Soccer season|2012]]. Following a four-month stint at [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]], he retired in May 2013 after a 20-year career.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 May 2013 |title=David Beckham wears captain's armband, adds assist for PSG in likely career finale – Yahoo! Sports |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/david-beckham-wears-captains-armband-161242615--mls.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609170008/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/david-beckham-wears-captains-armband-161242615--mls.html |archive-date=9 June 2013 |access-date=3 October 2013 |publisher=Yahoo!}}</ref>

In international football, Beckham made his England debut on 1 September 1996, at the age of 21. He was [[Captain (association football)|captain]] for [[List of England national football team captains|six years]], earning 58 caps during his tenure.<ref>{{cite news |title=Beckham's England dream realised |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1016201.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=10 November 2000 |access-date=9 September 2008 |archive-date=17 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217013123/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1016201.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Beckham quits as England captain |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5138288.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=2 July 2006 |access-date=9 September 2008 |archive-date=10 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210040846/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5138288.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> He made 115 career appearances in total, appearing at three [[FIFA World Cup]]s in [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]], [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]] and [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]] as well as two [[UEFA European Championship]]s in [[UEFA Euro 2000|2000]] and [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004]]. Beckham held the England appearance record for an [[Outfield#Association football|outfield player]] until 2016.

A global ambassador of football, Beckham is considered a British cultural icon.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 November 2016 |title=Shakespeare 'a cultural icon' abroad |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27110234 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=13 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913230807/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27110234 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Savell Reavis |first1=Tracey |title=The Life and Career of David Beckham: Football Legend, Cultural Icon |date=2014 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |pages=158, 175}}</ref> He has been in a well publicised marriage to [[Victoria Beckham]] since 1999 and was consistently ranked among the highest earners in football, in 2013 being listed as the highest-paid player in the world having earned over {{USD|50&nbsp;million}} in the previous twelve months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2013/04/17/the-worlds-best-paid-soccer-players/|title=The World's Best-Paid Soccer Players|date=17 April 2013|work=Forbes|access-date=12 September 2014|archive-date=18 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918225903/http://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2013/04/17/the-worlds-best-paid-soccer-players/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/woman/life/david-beckham-kids-named-most-stylish-celebrity-children-in-the-world-30170165.html|title=David Beckham kids named most stylish celebrity children in the world – BelfastTelegraph.co.uk|date=9 April 2014|work=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]|access-date=6 July 2014|archive-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806062152/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/woman/life/david-beckham-kids-named-most-stylish-celebrity-children-in-the-world-30170165.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Beckham was runner-up in the [[Ballon d'Or]] in [[1999 Ballon d'Or|1999]], twice runner-up for [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] ([[1999 FIFA World Player of the Year|1999]] and [[2001 FIFA World Player of the Year|2001]]) and in 2004 was named by [[Pelé]] in the [[FIFA 100]] list of the world's greatest living players.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Daniel|first1=Taylor|title=David Beckham exits as gracefully as one of his arcing crosses|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/may/16/david-beckham-retires-career|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=18 December 2014|date=16 May 2013|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920100059/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/may/16/david-beckham-retires-career|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pele's list of the greatest">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm |title=Pele's list of the greatest |work=BBC Sport |date=4 March 2004 |access-date=13 November 2013 |archive-date=3 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303061731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/player/72740.html|title=David Beckham, Great Britain|publisher=ESPN|access-date=12 September 2014|archive-date=4 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104093836/http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/player/72740.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[English Football Hall of Fame]] in 2008, and the [[Premier League Hall of Fame]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/hall-of-fame/inductees|title=2021 Inductees|work=[[Premier League]]|date=20 May 2021|access-date=21 May 2021|archive-date=2 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002140059/https://www.premierleague.com/hall-of-fame/inductees|url-status=live}}</ref> He has been a [[UNICEF UK|UNICEF]] ambassador since 2005, and in 2015 he launched ''7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund''.<ref name="UNICEF">{{cite news|title=David Beckham OBE, Goodwill Ambassador|url=http://m.unicef.org.uk/UNICEFs-Work/Our-supporters/Celebrities/David-Beckham/|publisher=UNICEF|date=16 September 2015}}</ref> In 2014, MLS announced that Beckham and a group of investors would own Inter Miami, which began playing in 2020.<ref name="Miami Beckham">{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/05/3914127/soccer-star-david-beckham-to-bring.html|title=Soccer star David Beckham to bring MLS team to Miami|work=The Miami Herald|first=Patricia|last=Mazzei|date=5 February 2014|access-date=5 February 2014|archive-date=5 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205204058/http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/05/3914127/soccer-star-david-beckham-to-bring.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

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