Football legend David Beckham turns 50

Happy birthday to David Beckham who turns 50 on 2 May.

The former football star played for clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid during a 20-year football career.

After retiring, Beckham stayed involved with the sport, and founded his own football club Inter Miami – where Lionel Messi now plays.

He was also England captain, making 115 appearances for his country.

Let's take a look at some of his other career highlights over the years.

How Blue Peter inspired his career

A young Beckham used to watch Blue Peter as a child and when he was 10 he was inspired to join the Sir Bobby Charlton Soccer School in Manchester which had been featured on the programme.

When he was 11, he went back to the same Soccer School and ended up winning a skills competition, with the prize taking him on a two-week trip to Barcelona to experience the Catalan club's facilities.

Beckham credits Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the legends of the game who helped England win the World Cup in 1966, with helping him get his chance at Manchester United and the rest is history.

In 2005, Beckham was awarded a Gold Blue Peter badge for his sporting achievements and services to football.

Treble history makers

Beckham won an historic treble for Manchester United in the 1998-1999 season - a first for an English club.

That year United had an amazing season full of last-minute goals, penalty drama and legendary performances to do what no English team had done before.

During the season, United lost only five times and had a run of 33 games unbeaten but they still only pipped rivals Arsenal to the Premier League title by one point.

The Red Devils beat Newcastle United in the FA Cup final, then took on German champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

The memorable game saw United famously win the trophy thanks to two goals in the last 90 seconds of the game, which shocked the sporting world.

England captain

David Beckham made his England debut in 1996, scoring his first international goal two years later in a 2-0 win over Colombia during the World Cup, with his trademark free-kick.

However at the same tournament, he was sent off for kicking out at Argentina's Diego Simeone in the second round and England were knocked out on penalties.

One of his most famous moments came in 2001, when England were on the verge of missing out on qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

He produced a perfect captain's performance when he curled in a late free-kick in the 93rd minute to earn a 2-2 draw with Greece at Old Trafford, which secured England's place in the competition.

Beckham captained the England team for six years, winning 115 caps for his country.

The Harry Kane connection

Speaking of England captains, it might come as a surprise, but current skipper Harry Kane has a lot in common with David Beckham.

Kane was born in Walthamstow, east London in the same hospital as Beckham, and grew up in Chingford where he went to a school previously attended by...you've guessed it, David Beckham.

Kane attended trials at Ridgeway Rovers, where Beckham also played, and impressed coaches even at the age of six.

When David Beckham set up his own football academy in 2005, an 11-year-old Harry Kane joined with the same dream as young David Beckham, to become a football superstar.

Post football career

After a 20-year career playing for clubs including Manchester United, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and PSG - Beckham set up the team Inter Miami which launched in 2018.

The club currently plays in the MLS, which is the Major Soccer League in America.

In 2023, Argentina star Lionel Messi, who is widely believed to be the best footballer in the world, signed for Inter Miami.

When the news came out, thousands of fans came to welcome the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner to the club.