David Beckham is retiring from football. The 38-year-old global superstar said Thursday that he will retire at the end of this season.
The midfielder played his first game for Manchester United in 1992 and eventually became captain of England’s international team for more than 50 games, including several World Cup tournaments. He appeared in 115 matches for the team and won titles in four different national leagues, including the Los Angeles, Galaxy and Real Madrid.
“I’m thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level,” Beckham said in a statement.
“If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over one hundred times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy,” Beckham said. “I’m fortunate to have realized those dreams.”
As he rose to international fame, Beckham married a Spice Girl at their peak as a group, became an international style icon starring in numerous ad campaigns, launched a fashion line with H&M, and even inspired a movie, Bend It Like Beckham, with his deadly ability to beat goaltenders on free kicks.
Beckham has two more matches left at Paris Saint-Germain against Brest on Saturday and at Lorient on May 26th.
