LONDON (AP) — It’s time for soccer’s greatest player to receive a knighthood. david beckham I knew what to do. He bent his knees like Beckham.
king charles iii With a tap on the shoulder with a sword blade, ‘Bex’ turned into Sir David Beckham.
“This is definitely my proudest moment,” Beckham said after Tuesday’s ceremony at Windsor Castle. “I’ve obviously been fortunate in my career to have won and accomplished what I’ve won, but to receive a knighthood honor like this is beyond anything I ever thought I would receive.”
The honor marks the culmination of Beckham’s efforts to repair his image after a long and illustrious career that at times alienated him from fans. He was also a very public figure, as a fashion model, husband of Spice Girls’ Victoria “Posh” Beckham, and “Bend It Like Beckham.” movie muse.
The 50-year-old was knighted for his contributions to sport and charity, including his 20-year campaign in partnership with the United Nations children’s fund, UNICEF, and with charities working to eradicate malaria. He also played a key role in the decision to host the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, author of “The Remains of the Day,” was honored with a Literary Medal of Honor at Tuesday’s ceremony. Famous musical singer and actor Elaine Page has been awarded the female equivalent of a knighthood.
Beckham is the only English footballer to score in three World Cups, his career including a trifecta in 1999. manchester united They won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
Beckham has played 115 times for England, ranking him third on the all-time list. He also served as team captain 59 times.
After leaving Manchester United in 2003, a decision that shocked fans, Beckham played for Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain. He is currently part owner of the Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.
His career reached its lowest point at the 1998 World Cup in France, when he was widely criticized for his violent kick at Argentina’s Diego Simeone, which resulted in him being sent off and leaving the team short of players. Many fans blamed him for his departure from the England national team.
In a 2023 Netflix documentary series. “Beckham” He described the abuse he experienced, including a portrait of himself hanging from a noose outside a London pub.
“I knew it was bad at the time, but it was pretty hard to go through everything,” he told The Associated Press at the time.
Beckham’s knighthood was announced in the King’s Birthday Honors Roll in June. The award will also be given in the new year and recognizes contributions to British life.
