David Beckham’s long pursuit of a British knighthood has come to a merciful conclusion, as the former England captain was officially honored by King Charles at a ceremony in Berkshire on Tuesday.
Currently co-owner of Inter Miami, Beckham—or Sir David—became one of English soccer’s first superstars of the modern age at Manchester United.
Rising through the youth team, Beckham would establish himself as a fixture in midfield, lifting six Premier League trophies, a pair of FA Cups and the 1999 Champions League title. That year, the set-piece specialist finished second in the Ballon d’Or, the annual vote for the best player in the world.
Beckham would go on to join Real Madrid after falling out with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, adding his celebrity appeal to a gaggle of glittering stars in the Spanish capital. The 115-cap England international subsequently move to LA Galaxy, where he is credited with singlehandedly transforming Major League Soccer (MLS) into the global brand it is today.
In his role as Inter Miami’s co-owner, Beckham played a role in the second great expansion of MLS after overseeing the arrival of Lionel Messi.
However, Beckham owes his knighthood to actions beyond the soccer pitch.
