Arise, Sir David Beckham

• The Manchester United and England legend has been honoured for his contributions to sport and his work as an ambassador for Unicef and The King’s Foundation.
• Beckham, who was appointed an OBE in 2003, earned 115 England caps, played in three World Cups, and helped United win six Premier League titles.
• The 50-year-old expressed his pride and gratitude for the recognition, calling it an “emotional moment” to share with his family.

David Beckham, the former Manchester United and England football star, has been awarded a knighthood in King Charles’ Birthday Honours list. The accolade, which recognises Beckham’s services to sport and charity, puts an end to his long wait for Britain’s highest honorary title.

In a statement, Beckham expressed his gratitude and pride, saying, “To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true. Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation. I’m so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I’m grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I’m immensely proud and it’s such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.”

Beckham, who was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003, has served as a Unicef ambassador since 2005 and became an ambassador for King Charles’ charity, The King’s Foundation, in 2024. The 50-year-old co-owner of Inter Miami CF has had a stellar career, earning 115 England caps, 59 of which were as captain. He remains the only English men’s player to score at three different World Cups, having appeared at every major tournament for the Three Lions between 1998 and 2006.

During his club career, Beckham helped Manchester United win six Premier League titles, including the famous treble success in 1999. He also played for Real Madrid during their “Galacticos” era, raised the profile of Major League Soccer by joining LA Galaxy, and enjoyed spells at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 2013. Additionally, Beckham played a role in helping London secure the hosting rights to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Manchester United congratulated their former player on social media, writing, “Massive congratulations from everyone at United on this special achievement, Becks — you truly deserve this.”

Beckham’s journey to receiving a knighthood has not been without its challenges. He was reportedly first put forward for the honour in 2011 but was ultimately unsuccessful, with reports claiming that HM Revenue and Customs vetoed his nomination due to his alleged involvement in a supposed tax avoidance scheme. In 2017, several newspapers printed details of Beckham’s leaked emails in which he appeared to criticise the honours system and the honours committee, though a spokesperson for the former footballer said at the time that the emails were “hacked,” “doctored,” and “private.”

Despite these setbacks, Beckham’s contributions to sport and his dedication to charitable causes have now been recognised with the highest honour in the land. As he joins the ranks of other sporting knights, such as Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst, and Sir Andy Murray, Beckham’s legacy as one of Britain’s greatest footballers and ambassadors is further cemented.