David Beckham’s Evolution Through The Years, In Photos

To recap on his rise to the top, below are 15 photos of David Beckham’s evolution through the years.

David Beckham has no doubt made a name for himself both on and off the pitch. From his humble beginnings in East London to becoming one of the biggest soccer icons of all-time, his illustrious career has spanned just over three decades, and amassed him multiple championships across North America and Europe, respectively.

Along with playing for the biggest clubs in the world, from Manchester United to Paris Saint-Germain, Beckham experienced a tumultuous career during his England National Team tenure. However, he managed to transition himself from villain to national hero with great affection.

Not only did Beckham garner attention for his style on the pitch — he even inspired the term “bend it like Beckham” — he also made a successful transition into the fashion world, building his personal brand into an empire.

To recap on his rise to the top, below are 15 photos of David Beckham’s evolution through the years.

15 Youth Clubs

David Beckham’s passion for soccer started when he was just a child. The young Becks, what his fans endearingly call him, was frequently spotted playing soccer in Ridgeway Park. Not one to give up on his dream of becoming a professional soccer player, Beckham’s youth career was spent playing for Ridgeway Rovers, Tottenham Hotspur, and Brimsdown Rovers, which eventually landed him a Youth Training Scheme with Manchester United in 1991.

14. Joins Manchester United

Having grown up a Manchester United fan, it was only fitting that Beckham started his professional career with the lauded English club. In 1992, at just 17 years old, he made his first-team debut. Beckham was part of the club’s golden days where he reached the pinnacle of his career in 1999, helping to lead The Red Devils to a treble: winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League.

13. On Loan To Preston North England

During part of the 1994–95 Premier League season, Beckham was put on loan to Preston North End to garner more experience. Out of his five appearances for the club, he impressively scored two goals. Shortly after, he was recalled by Alex Ferguson to return to Manchester United where he finally made his Premier League debut for the championed club.

12. England National Football Team Career

For many soccer players around the world, being able to play for their country is the biggest honor that could be bestowed upon them. On September 1, 1999, Beckham made his first appearance for the England National Team during a World Cup qualifying match against Moldova. During his career with the Three Lions, he won 58 caps.

11. 1998 FIFA World Cup

The 1998 FIFA World Cup will go down as the most infamous chapter of Beckham’s life. Marking his first time on an international tournament stage, all eyes were on Beckham and his budding career. During the Round of 16 match against Argentina, Beckham received a red card and ultimately cost England the chance to advance in the tournament.

10. Euro 2000

Upon returning home, Beckham was the target of numerous death threats, which only peaked during England’s defeat to Portugal at Euro 2000. However, Beckham managed to find redemption when he was promoted to the team captain. Beckham finally transitioned from villain to national hero during the team’s final qualifying match for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which saw Beckham scoring on a free kick to secure the win over Greece.

9. 2002 FIFA World Cup

Keeping on his upward momentum, Beckham led the England National Team to a relatively successful 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign, which took place in both Japan and South Korea. During the tournament, Becks also managed to secure revenge from the events that happened four years prior, by scoring the winning goal against Argentina and subsequently knocking them out of the tournament.

8. Euro 2004

Beckham continued his captaincy at Euro 2004, however, the national team was unsuccessful in claiming the title. Here England lost to France and was ultimately kicked out of the tournament after another defeat to Portugal in the quarterfinals.

7. Real Madrid

In the Summer of 2003, Beckham was transferred to La Liga giants Real Madrid for a fee of €37 million (approximately $40 million), although it was initially reported he would join Spanish rivals Barcelona. Forgoing his signature number 7, Beckham opted for the number 23 instead to pay homage to Michael Jordan’s famous Chicago Bulls jersey. He remained at the club until 2007.

6. 2006 FIFA World Cup

Beckham was in his prime during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. During the tournament, he scored a few assists and was named Man of the Match after England’s fixture against Trinidad and Tobago. After scoring against Ecuador, Beckham became the first English player to score in three separate World Cups. After losing to Portugal in the quarterfinals, he announced he was stepping down as England captain.

5. LA Galaxy

The soccer superstar made his move to Major League Soccer in 2007 when he joined LA Galaxy. As a budding league in a country where soccer doesn’t garner as much attention as its European and South American counterparts, Beckham’s move to the states made major headlines. Keeping his number 23 from Real, Beckham’s LA Galaxy kit managed to sell over 250,000 units even before his formal introduction to the club.

4. AC Milan Loan

In January 2009 a then 33-year-old Beckham joined AC Milan on loan with plans to return to the MLS afterward. During his time with the Serie A club, the soccer player wore the number 32 and played alongside fellow living legends Ronaldinho Andrea Pirlo. After returning to LA Galaxy halfway through the 2009-10 season, Beckham was once again sent to AC Milan on loan after the aforementioned season ended.

3. Paris Saint-Germain

Following a second successive cup victory with LA Galaxy, Beckham returned to Europe to join Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain on a five-month contract. During his time with PSG, he became the 400th player in the French club’s history and additionally helped to win the Ligue 1 title.

2. Final Appearance On The Pitch

A 38-year-old Beckham announced his retirement from professional soccer on May 16, 2013. Two days later he made his final appearance on the pitch as captain for PSG. During the fixture, he assisted a goal to help lead the club to a 3-1 win over Brest. After stepping off the pitch, a tearful Becks was met with a standing ovation from both the fans in the stadium and his team.

1. Buys Inter Miami

From his humble beginnings in East London to becoming one of the biggest soccer icons of all-time, Beckham amassed a fortune of over $252 million. To end his illustrious career on a high, he bought an MLS expansion team, Club Internacional de Futbol Miami, more commonly known as Inter Miami, for $25 million. Inter Miami made its MLS debut on March 1, 2020.