David Beckham is set to be awarded a knighthood, making him the latest British sporting icon to receive the prestigious title. The former England captain is expected to be named in King Charles III’s upcoming birthday honours list, which would officially make him “Sir David.”
Beckham, now 50, has long been seen as a candidate for the honour thanks to his contributions on and off the field. He played a key role in helping London secure the 2012 Olympic Games, joining the UK bid team in 2005 for the International Olympic Committee vote in Singapore. During the Games, he famously delivered the Olympic Flame by boat along the River Thames during the Opening Ceremony.
Beyond football, Beckham has served as a UNICEF ambassador since 2005 and has expanded his influence in the sport through ownership roles. In 2018, he became a co-owner of Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer expansion team. Most recently, he and former teammate Gary Neville led a consortium that took over Salford City, a fourth-tier English club, with ambitions of reaching the Premier League.
Beckham’s football career is among the most celebrated in the modern era. He rose to stardom at Manchester United, winning multiple league titles and a Champions League trophy. He later joined Real Madrid, before moving to LA Galaxy in the MLS, with loan spells at AC Milan, and concluding his career at Paris Saint-Germain.
Internationally, Beckham faced major criticism early in his England career after receiving a red card in the 1998 World Cup against Argentina. However, he bounced back to become a key figure in the national team, earning 115 caps and captaining the squad 59 times.
While Beckham’s inclusion in the honours list is highly anticipated, he may have to wait before officially receiving the knighthood. For example, tennis star Andy Murray was named in the 2017 New Year’s Honours but only received his knighthood in 2019.
Beckham will join a distinguished group of British athletes to be knighted, including cyclists Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Bradley Wiggins, and Sir Jason Kenny. Olympic champions like Dame Laura Kenny and Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill have also been recognised for their achievements.
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