16 May 2013
Last updated at
16:07 GMT
Beckham made his Manchester United debut in the League Cup at Brighton in September 1992, four months after winning the FA Youth Cup in a team that included Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Keith Gillespie
New England manager Glenn Hoddle gave Beckham his full international debut in a 3-0 win in Moldova in 1996
Beckham helped Manchester United to the Premier League and FA Cup Double in his first full season in 1996, establishing a partnership with Gary Neville down the right flank
Beckham forced his way into Hoddle's team at the World Cup in France in 1998, scoring his first international goal in a 2-0 win over Colombia with a trademark free-kick. But he was sent off for kicking out at Argentina's Diego Simeone in the second round and England were knocked out on penalties
Beckham faced an angry reaction from opposition fans throughout the following season but was a key man as United won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999. They won the European Cup for a second time with a dramatic win over Bayern Munich in the Nou Camp
'Goldenballs' began dating Spice Girl Victoria Adams in 1997 and married the pop star in 1999. The couple now have four children: sons Brooklyn Joseph, Romeo James and Cruz David, and daughter Harper Seven
Beckham was named England captain for the first time by caretaker manager Peter Taylor for a 1-0 friendly defeat in Italy
Beckham produced the archetypal captain's performance when he curled in a late free-kick to earn a 2-2 draw with Greece at Old Trafford that booked England's place at the 2002 World Cup
Beckham went a long way towards making up for his red card at the 1998 World Cup with a penalty to beat Argentina 1-0 in the group phase in 2002
Beckham was hit by a boot kicked by manager Sir Alex Ferguson following a 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round defeat by Arsenal at Old Trafford in February 2003. Beckham scored in a 2-1 win at Everton in his final appearance for the club as Manchester United celebrated their Premier League title win - his sixth with the club
Beckham's career went beyond the boundaries of football as seen here when the England midfielder visited former South African president Nelson Mandela
Beckham made a £24.5m move to Real Madrid on 18 June 2003, ending a 12-year stint at Old Trafford. He made his debut in a 2-1 Spanish Super Cup defeat by Real Mallorca
Beckham, who had a penalty saved in a 2-1 group game defeat by France, missed from the spot in the penalty shoot-out as England were knocked out of Euro 2004 by Portugal
In 2005 Beckham became an Olympic ambassador for the London 2012 bid alongside five-time gold medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave
Beckham limped off before half-time as England were knocked out in the quarter-final of the 2006 World Cup on penalties by Portugal. Earlier in the tournament he scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory against Ecuador and became the first Englishman to score at three World Cups
Beckham announced his intention to join LA Galaxy in January 2007 and was marginalised by Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello. But he forced his way back into the team as Real won La Liga for the first time since his move to Spain
Beckham was signed by LA Galaxy in July 2007
Never a stranger to the headlines, Beckham's celebrity status was dialled up another notch after his move to Los Angeles - here he and wife Victoria are pictured with Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith
Beckham joined AC Milan on loan in January 2009 in an attempt to get back into the England team
In 2010 Beckham received the BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement award after becoming England's most capped outfield player
Beckham won his 115th and final England cap in a 3-0 win over Belarus in October 2009. A ruptured Achilles sustained during a second loan spell at AC Milan ended his hopes of playing in the 2010 World Cup
Despite being left out of Team GB's Olympic Football squad, Beckham still had a role to play, delivering the torch to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of London 2012
Beckham helped set up the goal for Landon Donovan as LA Galaxy won the 2011 MLS Cup with a 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo. After speculation that he might join Paris St Germain, Beckham signed a two-year deal to remain in the United States
Beckham subsequently announced that the 2012 MLS Cup Final would be his final game with the Galaxy. Playing in a 3-1 win over Houston Dynamo, Beckham crowned five and a half years in the United States, and was substituted in the 89th minute to a standing ovation
After months of speculation and reported offers from clubs across the world, it was revealed that Beckham would sign for French Ligue 1 side Paris St-Germain until June 2013
On 31 January 2013 Beckham was joined at a press conference by the PSG hierarchy as it was announced the midfielder, then 37, would play in Paris for free - he revealed he would be donating his salary to charity
Beckham made his debut against Marseille in February, his arrival in the 76th minute met by a rousing reception from the PSG fans
Beckham made his return to European football as PSG faced Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It was Beckham's first appearance in European football in three years as PSG drew 2-2 with the Catalan side at the Parc des Princes
Beckham won his 10th career league title as PSG claimed the French crown with a 1-0 win over Lyon on Sunday 12 May
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