David Beckham is an English former professional soccer player. A global ambassador for the sport, Beckham is widely considered a British cultural icon.

During his impressive career, Beckham played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, Milan, Los Angeles Galaxy, Paris Saint-Germain, and the England national team, for which he holds the appearance record for an outfield player. He was the first English player to win league titles in four countries -- England, Spain, the United States, and France. Beckham retired from playing professionally in 2013.

Beckham's professional career, which lasted over two decades, began with Manchester United, where he made his first-team debut in 1992 at age 17. With United, Beckham won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999. He then played four seasons with Real Madrid, winning the La Liga championship in his final season with the club. In July 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy. While a Galaxy player, he spent two loan spells in Italy with AC Milan in 2009 and 2010. Beckham was the first British soccer player to play 100 Champions League matches.

In international soccer, Beckham made his England debut on in September 1996, at the age of 21. He was captain for six years, during which he played 58 times. He made 115 career appearances in total, appearing at three FIFA World Cup editions (1998, 2002 and 2006) and two UEFA European Championship tournaments (2000 and 2004).

Beckham was twice named runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year, and in 2004 he was named one of the Top 125 greatest living soccer players by soccer legend Pelé as part of FIFA's 100th-anniversary celebration. In 2004, he was the world's highest-paid soccer player when taking into account salary and advertising deals. When he joined MLS in 2007, he was given the highest player salary in the league's history.

In February 2014, Major League Soccer announced Beckham and a group of investors would own an expansion team in Miami, Inter Miami CF, which made its MLS debut on March 1, 2020.

In 1999, Beckham married Victoria Beckham, who rose to fame as "Posh Spice" of the Spice Girls since 1999. Together they have four children.

He has been a UNICEF UK ambassador since 2005, and in 2015 he launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund.

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