Who is David Beckham?

If football had rockstars, David Beckham would definitely be on stage shaking his hips and flipping that golden hair. You didn’t need to be a football fan in the 90s or 2000s to know who Beckham was. Maybe you spotted him bending a free kick on TV, or maybe you just saw his face on a Calvin Klein billboard and thought, “Well, that’s unfair.”

So who is David Beckham really? He’s more than Posh Spice’s other half, more than a pretty face with fancy hairstyles, and more than a guy who made free kicks look like art. He’s a man whose right foot wrote history. Let’s go through his story, jersey by jersey.

David Beckham in the Manchester United Jersey

This is where the fairy tale kicked off. Beckham came up through Manchester United’s famous “Class of 92” with Giggs, Scholes, Neville and all that crew. In 1992 he made his first team debut, but it was the mid-90s when everyone really started noticing him.

Beckham played 394 games for United, scored 85 goals and set up plenty more (assists weren’t tracked as much back then, which is a shame, because his crosses were basically cheat codes). He won 6 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups and the Champions League in 1999, completing the legendary Treble.

And who can forget that goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996? That’s when Beckham turned from “that lad with the floppy hair” into a superstar. Suddenly every kid was trying to shoot from ridiculous distances on the playground.

But hey, it wasn’t just about football. Off the pitch, Beckham became a tabloid favourite. Dating Posh Spice? Front-page news. Sir Alex Ferguson kicking a boot that hit Becks in the face? Pure drama. And let’s be honest, some of his haircuts deserve their own documentary.

David Beckham in the Real Madrid Jersey

In 2003 Beckham shocked the world by swapping Manchester red for Madrid white. Real Madrid paid around £25 million and boom, Beckham joined the Galácticos—Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos. Basically a FIFA dream team.

He played 155 games, scored 20 goals and delivered countless laser-guided crosses. But trophies were harder to come by. In four years, he won just one La Liga and a Spanish Super Cup. Still, Beckham’s arrival made Real Madrid a global brand powerhouse. David Beckham Football Shirt sales went wild, especially in Asia and the United States.

Off the pitch, well, the Spanish press had a field day. Rumours, paparazzi, all sorts of chaos. And remember the cornrows hairstyle? Let’s quietly move past that one.

Even if his time in Spain wasn’t the most successful in terms of silverware, Beckham in that Madrid jersey was unforgettable. He wasn’t always the best player on the pitch, but he was the one everyone talked about.

David Beckham in the LA Galaxy Jersey

This move in 2007 shocked plenty of fans. Leaving Europe for Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS? People thought it was semi-retirement. But Beckham turned it into something much bigger.

He made 98 appearances, scored 18 goals and added 40 assists. More importantly, he helped put MLS on the global map. He wasn’t just a poster boy—he won two MLS Cups and a Supporters’ Shield.

And of course, Hollywood life suited him perfectly. Posh and Becks became L.A. royalty, hanging out with Tom Cruise, Will Smith and half of Hollywood. Beckham also signed that massive Adidas deal and launched his own fashion empire. Oh, and he had that sneaky contract clause that let him buy a future MLS club. That’s how Inter Miami was born. Genius.

David Beckham in the AC Milan Jersey

Now here’s a twist not everyone remembers. Beckham joined AC Milan on loan twice, in 2009 and 2010, while still signed to LA Galaxy. Why? He wanted to stay sharp and prove to Fabio Capello that he still deserved an England call-up.

He played 33 games, scored 2 goals and honestly, he looked like he belonged in Milan. Sadly, in his second stint he tore his Achilles tendon, which meant no 2010 World Cup for Beckham. England fans were gutted.

But fashion-wise, he was perfect for Italy. The suits, the slicked-back hair, the sunglasses—he could’ve walked straight into a Milan runway show.

David Beckham in the PSG Jersey

Finally, the last dance. In 2013 Beckham signed for Paris Saint-Germain. At 37, he wasn’t there to dominate the pitch, but more to add class and experience.

He played 14 games, didn’t score, but lifted a Ligue 1 trophy before hanging up his boots. The best part? Beckham donated his entire PSG salary to a children’s charity. Classic Beckham ending his career with style and generosity.

His last game was emotional. He cried, the crowd gave him a standing ovation, teammates hugged him. It felt like football was saying goodbye to one of its most beloved stars.

*In the end, David Beckham didn’t just bend footballs. He bent the whole world’s attention towards him. And that, mate, is why he’ll always be remembered as one of the biggest icons in the beautiful game.