David Beckham Biography: Age, Wife, Family, Career, Stats, Records and Net Worth

This David Beckham biography covers the full journey of one of the most famous footballers in the history of the game. David Beckham was born in London on 2 May 1975, and he turned 51 years old in May 2026. He won league titles in four countries, captained England 59 times, and became a global icon far beyond football.

Beckham is best known for his passing, his crossing, and his free kicks. He won the treble with Manchester United in 1999, scored the free kick against Greece that sent England to the 2002 World Cup, and won 115 caps for England. In June 2025, he was knighted for services to sport and charity.

This article covers the age, wife, family, career, stats, records, and net worth of David Beckham in simple English. It also answers the most common questions about his clubs, his England career, and his life after football.

Quick Facts

Detail	Fact
Full name	Sir David Robert Joseph Beckham
Date of birth	2 May 1975
Age (as of October 2026)	51 years
Birthplace	Leytonstone, London, England
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position	Midfielder (right midfielder)
Wife	Victoria Beckham (married in July 1999)
Children	Four children: Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper
Parents	David Edward Alan Beckham and Sandra Georgina West
England debut	1 September 1996 against Moldova
England caps and goals	115 caps and 17 goals
England captain	59 occasions between November 2000 and June 2008
Clubs	Manchester United, Preston North End (loan), Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan (loans), Paris Saint-Germain
Major trophies	19
Knighthood	Knighted in June 2025 for services to sport and charity
Current role	President and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, co-owner of Salford City

Early Life and Education

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born at Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone, in the east of London, on 2 May 1975. His father is David Edward Alan Beckham, known as Ted, and his mother is Sandra Georgina West. Ted worked as a kitchen fitter, and Sandra worked as a hairdresser. David has two sisters, Lynne and Joanne.

Football filled the early life of Beckham. His father supported Manchester United, and the family followed the club with passion. Beckham played for a local youth team, Ridgeway Rovers, and later spent time in the youth system of Tottenham Hotspur. In 1991, at the age of 16, he signed as a trainee with Manchester United.

At school, Beckham attended Chase Lane Primary School and then Chingford County High School. Football took most of his time as a teenager, and the academy system of Manchester United shaped his daily life from an early age. He grew up alongside other young players such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, and Nicky Butt. The group later became famous as the Class of 92.

As a youth player, Beckham was part of the Manchester United team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992. The win marked the rise of a group of young players who later became the core of the senior team.

Family

David Beckham married Victoria Adams in July 1999. The couple married at Luttrellstown Castle, near Dublin in Ireland. Victoria was a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, where she was known as Posh Spice. The press often called the couple Posh and Becks.

The couple has four children. Their first son, Brooklyn, was born in March 1999, a few months before the wedding. Their second son, Romeo, was born in September 2002. Their third son, Cruz, was born in February 2005. Their daughter, Harper, was born in July 2011.

The family lived in England, Spain, the United States, and France during the playing career of Beckham. After retirement, the family settled mainly in London and Miami. Beckham has said in interviews that his family is the most important part of his life, and he often shares moments with his children in public.

Victoria Beckham later built a career in fashion. In June 2025, when David Beckham was knighted, Victoria Beckham became known as Lady Beckham. The couple has stayed together for more than 25 years, which is rare among famous couples in sport and entertainment.

Club Career

The club career of David Beckham took him to six clubs in four countries. He started at Manchester United, played in Spain for Real Madrid, helped to grow football in America with LA Galaxy, spent two loan spells in Italy with AC Milan, and finished his career in France with Paris Saint-Germain. He won 19 major trophies along the way.

Manchester United

The club career of David Beckham began at Manchester United, where he made his first-team debut in 1992 at the age of 17. He became a regular starter in the 1995-96 season, and he stayed at the club until 2003. In total, he made 394 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United and scored 85 goals.

The early breakthrough came in August 1996, when Beckham scored from the halfway line against Wimbledon. The goal became one of the most famous goals in the history of the Premier League, and it was later voted the Goal of the Decade. In the same period, he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the 1996-97 season.

The peak of his United career came in the 1998-99 season, when the club won the treble: the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. In the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, Beckham took the two corners in added time that led to the two late goals of United. The club won the final 2-1.

With Manchester United, Beckham won the Premier League six times, in 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, and 2002-03. He also won the FA Cup twice, in 1995-96 and 1998-99, and the Intercontinental Cup in 1999. In 1999, he finished second in the voting for the Ballon d’Or.

Before he became a regular at United, Beckham spent a short loan spell at Preston North End in 1995. He made 5 appearances and scored 2 goals in the Third Division. The loan gave him senior match experience, and he returned to United as a stronger player.

Real Madrid

In the summer of 2003, Beckham joined Real Madrid. He played four seasons for the Spanish club and made 116 league appearances, scoring 13 goals. He played alongside stars such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, and Raul.

The first three seasons at Real Madrid brought no major trophy. In the final season, 2006-07, the club won La Liga. Beckham had been out of the team for a period under coach Fabio Capello, but he fought his way back into the starting line-up and played an important part in the title win. He also won the Supercopa de España in 2003.

In October 2006, Beckham became the first British footballer to play 100 matches in the Champions League. His time in Spain showed his work rate and his professionalism, and the Madrid fans grew to respect him for his effort on the pitch.

LA Galaxy and AC Milan Loans

In July 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract with LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer. The move was one of the most famous transfers in the history of American soccer, and it raised the profile of the league around the world. He made 98 league appearances for the Galaxy and scored 18 goals.

With the Galaxy, Beckham won the MLS Cup twice, in 2011 and 2012. He also won the Supporters Shield twice, in 2010 and 2011. The Supporters Shield goes to the team with the best record in the regular season.

During the off-seasons in America, Beckham spent two loan spells in Italy with AC Milan, in 2009 and 2010. He made 18 league appearances and scored 2 goals in the first spell, and 11 league appearances with no goals in the second spell. In March 2010, during the second spell, he suffered an Achilles injury that kept him out of the 2010 World Cup.

Paris Saint-Germain

In January 2013, Beckham joined Paris Saint-Germain on a short contract for the rest of the season. He made 10 league appearances for the French club. PSG won Ligue 1 in 2012-13, which made Beckham the first English player to win a league title in four different countries: England, Spain, the United States, and France.

Reports said that Beckham donated his PSG salary to a charity for children. In May 2013, he announced his retirement from football. He ended his career with 19 major trophies.

International Career

The international career of David Beckham lasted 13 years, from 1996 to 2009. He won 115 caps and scored 17 goals for England. At the time of his retirement, he held the record for the most caps by an outfield player of England, a record that stood until 2016.

Debut and Early Years

Beckham made his England debut on 1 September 1996 against Moldova in a World Cup qualifier. He was 21 years old. He scored his first England goal on 26 June 1998 against Colombia at the 1998 World Cup, with a free kick in a 2-0 win.

Four days later, his World Cup turned into a nightmare. In the last-16 match against Argentina, Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone. England lost the match on penalties, and Beckham faced harsh criticism from fans and the press. The red card became one of the most talked-about moments of his career.

Beckham recovered from that low point. He became captain of England for the first time in a friendly against Italy in November 2000. He then led the team through one of the most famous wins in the history of England football, a 5-1 win over Germany in Munich in September 2001.

Captain and the Greece Free Kick

The most famous moment of the England career of Beckham came on 6 October 2001, against Greece at Old Trafford. England trailed 2-1 in stoppage time and needed a draw to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. Beckham scored a free kick from long range in the 93rd minute to make the score 2-2. The goal sent England to the World Cup and turned Beckham from a figure of blame into a national hero.

At the 2002 World Cup, Beckham captained England and scored the only goal, a penalty, in a 1-0 win over Argentina. England reached the quarter-finals, where the team lost to Brazil. At Euro 2004, England lost to Portugal in the quarter-finals on penalties, and Beckham missed a penalty in the shoot-out.

In October 2005, Beckham became the first captain of England to be sent off, and the first England player to be sent off twice, in a qualifier against Austria. In total, Beckham captained England on 59 occasions between November 2000 and June 2008.

Later Years

At the 2006 World Cup, Beckham scored the only goal, a free kick, in a 1-0 win over Ecuador in the last 16. England then lost to Portugal in the quarter-finals on penalties. Beckham was forced off during that match with an ankle injury, and he stood down as captain the next day.

New England coach Steve McClaren dropped Beckham from the squad, but public pressure led to a recall in 2007. Beckham returned in a friendly against Brazil at the new Wembley in June 2007 and set up a goal for John Terry with a cross.

Beckham won his 100th cap on 26 March 2008 against France in Paris. He equalled the record of Bobby Moore for outfield caps in February 2009 and then moved past it. His last cap came on 14 October 2009 against Belarus at Wembley. He missed the 2010 World Cup through injury and travelled with the squad in a non-playing role.

Playing Style

Beckham played mainly as a right midfielder. He was known for the range of his passing, the accuracy of his crossing, and his set-piece taking. His free kicks and corners created goals for his teams in every league where he played.

Of his 17 England goals, 7 came from direct free kicks and 5 came from penalties. His corners were just as dangerous. In the 1999 Champions League final, his two late corners led to the two goals that won the trophy for Manchester United.

Beckham was also known for his work rate. He covered long distances in matches, tracked back to help the defence, and kept his fitness at a high level through his whole career. His professionalism and his preparation set a standard for younger players.

His crossing from the right side became his trademark. He could place the ball on the head of a striker from long range, and his passes often started attacks. He was not the fastest player, but his vision and his technique made him one of the best midfielders of his generation.

His dead-ball skill changed matches. Teams feared his free kicks from 30 yards and more, and his corners often led to goals. The 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham took its title from his free-kick skill, and the film showed how far his fame had spread beyond football.

Stats

The table below shows the league appearances and goals of David Beckham by club. League figures are used because they are counted the same way by every source. The totals come to 523 league appearances and 97 league goals.

Club	Period	League Appearances	League Goals
Manchester United	1992-2003	265	62
Preston North End (loan)	1995	5	2
Real Madrid	2003-2007	116	13
LA Galaxy	2007-2012	98	18
AC Milan (loan)	2009	18	2
AC Milan (loan)	2010	11	0
Paris Saint-Germain	2013	10	0
Total	1992-2013	523	97

The table below shows the England record of David Beckham by year. The figures cover 115 caps and 17 goals between 1996 and 2009.

Year	Caps	Goals
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

The table below shows the major trophies of David Beckham by club. The total comes to 19 major trophies.

Club	Major Trophies
Manchester United	Premier League (6), FA Cup (2), FA Community Shield (2), UEFA Champions League (1), Intercontinental Cup (1)
Real Madrid	La Liga (1), Supercopa de España (1)
LA Galaxy	MLS Cup (2), Supporters Shield (2)
Paris Saint-Germain	Ligue 1 (1)

Records

• Only English player to win a league title in four different countries: England, Spain, the United States, and France.
• First British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches.
• Held the record for the most caps by an outfield player of England (115) until 2016.
• Only English player to score at three World Cups: 1998, 2002, and 2006.
• Captained England on 59 occasions.
• Won 19 major trophies in his club career.
• Scored 7 of his 17 England goals from direct free kicks.
• Member of the Manchester United team that won the treble in 1998-99.
• First captain of England to be sent off, in October 2005 against Austria.
• Fifth player to reach 100 caps for England, after Billy Wright, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, and Peter Shilton.

Awards and Honours

Beckham won many individual awards across his career. The list below covers his main awards and honours.

• Knighted in June 2025 for services to sport and charity.
• Appointed OBE in 2003.
• Ballon d’Or runner-up in 1999.
• FIFA World Player of the Year runner-up in 1999 and 2001.
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in 1998-99.
• UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year in 1998-99.
• PFA Young Player of the Year in 1996-97.
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2001, and BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
• England Player of the Year in 2003.
• Named in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living players in 2004.
• English Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
• Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.
• UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 2005.

Net Worth

Reports differ widely on the net worth of David Beckham, and no exact figure is confirmed. The Sunday Times Rich List in 2025 put the combined wealth of David Beckham and his wife Victoria at 500 million pounds. A later edition of the same list reportedly put the combined figure at 1.2 billion pounds. These figures cover the couple together, not David Beckham alone, and they are reported estimates, not confirmed facts.

The main sources of his wealth, as described in reports, include his earnings as a player, his endorsement deals, his business interests, and his stake in Inter Miami CF. Reports say he holds about a 26 per cent stake in the club. The value of the club rose after Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023.

Because the estimates differ across sources and years, this article presents the net worth figure only as a reported estimate. The exact total of his wealth is not public.

His business career began long before retirement. Beckham signed endorsement deals with major brands during his playing days, and his image appeared in advertisements around the world. After retirement, those deals continued, and his work as a club owner added a new source of income.

Life After Football

After retirement, Beckham stayed in football as an owner and a leader. He had agreed a deal when he joined LA Galaxy that gave him the right to buy a new Major League Soccer team at a low price. He used that right to create Inter Miami CF. He is the president and co-owner of the club, and Inter Miami began play in Major League Soccer in 2020.

Inter Miami became one of the most talked-about clubs in the world when Lionel Messi joined the club in 2023. Reports say that Beckham holds about a 26 per cent stake in Inter Miami. The club won a first MLS Cup in 2025. Beckham also became a co-owner of Salford City, a club in the lower divisions of English football.

Charity work has been a large part of his life after football. Beckham has served as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 2005. In 2015, he set up a fund with UNICEF, called 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund, to help children around the world. His charity work was one of the reasons for his knighthood in 2025.

Beckham has also worked in media and business. A documentary series about his life, called Beckham, was released on Netflix in 2023. He has worked with brands for many years, and his image remains one of the most recognised in world sport.

Conclusion

The story of David Beckham is a story of talent, hard work, and reinvention. He went from a boy in east London to the captain of England, from the red card of 1998 to the free kick of 2001 that made him a hero. He won trophies in four countries and played at the highest level for more than 20 years.

His influence went far beyond the pitch. He changed how the world saw footballers, brought global attention to Major League Soccer, and built a business career after retirement. His knighthood in 2025 recognised both his sport and his charity work.

For young readers, the main lesson is clear. Setbacks do not define a career. Beckham faced public blame at the age of 23, and he answered it with work, discipline, and one of the most famous free kicks in the history of football. That is why his name still stands among the greats of English football.

Today, Beckham remains one of the most recognised faces in world football. His name is linked with great free kicks, with the treble of 1999, and with the night against Greece in 2001. His career shows how a player can rise, fall, and rise again, and how hard work can turn a moment of shame into a lifetime of respect.

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