Happy birthday, David Beckham! As Man United legend turns 50, here’s how Britain’s best-loved sporting heartthrob has transformed from East End boy to global superstar

David Beckham is expected to go ‘all out’ as the sporting icon celebrates his 50th birthday with friends and family in London today.

The former footballer will toast the milestone birthday with a lavish dinner party at the three Michelin star restaurant Core in London.

David and Victoria’s children Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 13 are all reported to be on the guest list for the bash, with celebrity friends including Tom Cruise and former Man United Class of ’92 team-mates also expected to attend.

A report from the Sun claims chefs at Beckham’s favourite London restaurant have been designing a bespoke menu for the celebration.

‘David is going all out for his 50th – and while a dinner party seems understated it is going to be a bash to remember,’ the source explained.

‘Brooklyn and Nicola are on the list, as well as Romeo, Cruz and Harper, and his and Victoria’s parents – it’s a proper family affair.

‘David threw a big party in Miami for his American friends but on his actual birthday, Friday May 2, he wants a more intimate celebration.’

The celebration looks set to be a far cry from Beckham’s humble beginnings in Leytonstone, east London.

Born at Whipps Cross University Hospital on May 2 1975, his passion for the beautiful game and unbridled love for Manchester United would be nurtured from an early age by parents Ted, a kitchen fitter, and hairdresser mother Sandra; both avid fans of the team, the couple would frequently travel the 200 miles from their home to watch them play at Old Trafford.

Beckham honed his skills as a footballer on the field at local Larkswood Park, in the playground at Chase Lane Primary School and eventually for his school team at Chingford County High.

Recalling his early passion and subsequent desire to develop a career as a sportsman, Beckham told W magazine in 2007: ‘At school whenever the teachers asked, “What do you want to do when you’re older?” I’d say, “I want to be a footballer.” And they’d say, “No, what do you really want to do, for a job?” But that was the only thing I ever wanted to do.’

Acutely aware of his talent with the ball, father Ted actively encouraged David, then aged eight, to play by coaching him in Chingford based youth team Ridgeway Rovers, a grass roots London club whose more recent finds include England captain Harry Kane.

It would be the future footballing legend’s first taste of club football, and he would excel – scoring an impressive 100 goals in his first three seasons with the team.

‘It’s something only a dad can describe – having a boy. And then when he gets older and he takes an interest in football – well, that’s what every dad dreams about, isn’t it?’ Ted told The Times newspaper in 2005.

‘David had talent, but he needed someone to bring it out and I was the cog that started him off. Any dad would have done the same.’

Reflecting on David’s passion while playing for the team, Ridgeway Rovers chairman Ian Marshall told Guardian: ‘David is a typical local lad done good. As a youngster he would come home from school and practice his free kicks over the park for hours, to perfect his unique technique of striking the ball and improving his accuracy.’

Slight in build and wiry in frame, he proved his worth as a promising midfielder and his talent eventually gained him a place at a Manchester based football academy in 1986, organised by one of his idols – World Cup winner Bobby Charlton.

The move would prove to be a catalyst for David who, aged 11, won himself a trip to Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium and the opportunity to train for two weeks with the club’s then manager Terry Venables as reward for trumping the Charlton academy’s Soccer Skills Competition, which judged participants on their ball control skills.

Venables, who would go on managed England for two years, later admitted he knew the young footballer would go on to be a success.

He told The Sun: ‘I knew from the first time I saw him that David Beckham would be something special. The way he looked, the way he played and the way he conducted himself on the training pitch around international stars.’

The Soccer Skills triumph also earned David his first TV appearance on a Christmas edition of chat show Daytime focussing on talented school-children – during which he impressed host Sarah Kennedy with his keepy-uppy technique.

Such exposure inevitably caught the eye of canny football scouts, and trials with local club Leyton Orient and north London giants Tottenham Hotspur soon followed.

However the future England captain’s heart lay elsewhere, and it would be Manchester United he eventually signed for as a trainee in 1991 after balancing school work with amateur football as a midfielder with Waltham Forest District and Essex County.

A subsequent move away from his London roots would begin a significant chapter in David’s life, during which he would develop firm friendships and a trophy winning dynamic with fellow youth team-mates Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Lee Sharpe and Ryan Giggs.

Dubbed the Class of ’92, they would go on to win the FA Cup – Beckham’s first silverware – after beating Crystal Palace 6-3 on aggregate.

‘This was more special than anything I’d ever done,’ David later reflected in a 2014 documentary. ‘The fact that I was playing for Manchester United was a dream.

‘The fact that I could be successful with a bunch of lads that were friends, and we grew up together. The fact that we achieved what we achieved. That was without a doubt the happiest time in my career.’

But there would be disappointment following his first team debut against Port Vale in 1994 after club manager Sir Alex Ferguson opted to loan him out to Preston North End.

‘I was shocked,’ he wrote in his autobiography My World. ‘I thought it was a sign that the club was trying to get rid of a player.’

However his five appearances and two goals for Preston would give Beckham a better taste of first team football and provide a platform upon which he established himself as a pivotal player for United during successful periods in their history.

Paul Bradley, Preston’s stadium manager, said Beckham’s loan contract is still hanging on the wall of his office at the ground and is a rather unique souvenir of where it all began for the world famous star.

He told the Daily Telegraph: ‘David Beckham played down here on loan and I have his contract on my office wall. I was told to get rid of it by a former chairman, but I was sensible enough to keep it.’

The official Football Association document showed that Beckham played for Preston between February 28 and March 27, 1995 and was paid the princely sum of £400 a week.

That figure would pale in comparison to the sums Beckham would earn through football and endorsements, most notably a long-standing association with sports brand Adidas, as his career took off throughout the nineties.

But it wasn’t just his footballing skills that earned him attention; off the pitch his naturally good looks and occasionally outlandish dress sense was winning him attention that would soon be broadened thanks to his relationship with The Spice Girls singer Victoria Adams.

Recalling the first time he saw Victoria in a music video while holed up in a hotel room with Gary Neville, he told W: ‘I turned around to Gary and said, “That one there, that’s the girl I’m going to marry.”‘

They would embark on a relationship after meeting at a charity event in 1997 before David’s eventual proposal with a £40,000 ring the following year, but their initial meeting wasn’t a complete success.

‘I’m quite shy,’ he added. ‘I just sort of waved from the other side of the bar. I sort of said hello and then just went back to Manchester. I was quite upset and gutted.’

By 1998 Beckham had established himself as a first team player with England after winning his first cap in a World Cup qualifier against Moldova two years earlier.

But on the eve of the World Cup finals in France he earned notoriety for making his first significant style statement by wearing a sarong for a night out with Victoria.

‘Sarongs are great, he said when asked about the incident on breakfast show Lorraine in 2015. ‘That’s one thing I never regret because I thought it looked great and I would still wear it now.

‘Over the years it’s not just myself, everybody looks back at old pictures of themselves and thinks, “I can’t believe I wore that, or I wish I hadn’t wore that, or what was I thinking?” ‘You make mistakes over the years or you wear things that were right at the time.’

However, derision soon turned to condemnation for the footballer following his controversial sending off for kicking out at midfielder Diego Simeone during England’s second round match against Argentina.

Down to ten men, the team would go on to crash out of the tournament after losing on penalties, and the defeat would turn the player into a public pariah – but not for long.

Indeed, he would soon win back his popularity during Manchester United’s treble winning 1998-1999 season, during which the team won the Premier League Title, FA Cup and European Cup.

There was also happiness in Beckham’s personal life with son Brooklyn – named after where he was conceived – born in Westminster on March 4 1999.

His marriage to Victoria that July, presided over by Bishop of Cork, Paul Colton at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland, proved to be a lavish affair, with a subsequent wedding reception, estimated to have cost £500,000, reportedly requiring the assistance of 437 staff.

The pair later pictured on matching thrones specially installed for the event and Victoria, in keeping with the regal theme, wearing a diamond tiara created by jewellery designer Slim Barret.

On the pitch Beckham was slowly winning back the respect of England fans still bristling from their World Cup debacle, and two years after his sending off he would captain his country for the first time in a friendly against Italy in Turin.

It would mark a change in international fortunes for the player and relief from Manchester United, where his relationship with Ferguson was becoming increasingly strained.

Indeed their working relationship nosedived after a boot kicked by Ferguson during a furious dressing room rant hit Beckham in the eye, leaving a gash that required stitches.

Referring to the incident in his autobiography, Ferguson later recounted: ‘In his final season with us, we were aware that David’s work rate was dropping and we had heard rumours of a flirtation between Real Madrid and David’s camp. The main issue was that his application level had dropped from its traditionally stratospheric level.

‘He was around 12 feet from me. Between us on the floor lay a row of boots. David swore. I moved towards him, and as I approached I kicked a boot. It hit him right above the eye. Of course he rose to have a go at me and the players stopped him. “Sit down,” I said. “You’ve let your team down. You can argue as much as you like.”‘

Controversy aside the player was beloved among Manchester United and England fans, with his last gasp equalizing goal against Greece in 2001 winning the Three Lions passage to the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea and earning the player legendary status.

Beckham also had cause to celebrate on September 1 following the birth of his second son, Romeo, at the same Westminster hospital as his older brother.

But with success came style, and the player’s occasionally frequently changing hairstyles were winning as much attention as his performances.

Memorably, Beckham opted for an edgy – and short lived – mohican hairstyle ahead of a friendly against Mexico in 2001, but while it proved to be acceptable for England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, his club manager had other ideas.

‘I don’t know why I had that one,’ he said during an appearance on the Graham Norton Show in February. ‘I was in the dressing room with an hour to go before kick off when Sir Alex Ferguson saw it and made me shave it off.

‘I said no at first and then I saw his face change very quickly so I went and shaved it off in the toilet. He was very strict. It was the reputation of the club, he wanted all the players to look professional and he felt it wasn’t the right look. We were playing at Wembley too, so he kind of had a point!’

Another high-point came the following year, when Beckham attempted to tie his hair in corn rows ahead of a meeting with Nelson Mandela prior to an England friendly against South Africa.

‘Some of them have been really bad,’ Beckham told Norton of his various styles. ‘I hadn’t thought them through. The topknot wasn’t too bad but the cornbraids were a bad decision.

‘It was bad timing as well as I was going to South Africa at the time with England and ended up meeting Nelson Mandela so that’s why I regret that one.’

Back home the Beckham’s Premier League career was winding down and, a year after guiding England to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, he signed for Real Madrid in a £25 million deal.

It would bring to an end a hugely successful association with Manchester United, where he won six Premier League trophies, two FA Cups and the Champions League.

In a statement issued shortly before his move, he said: ‘I would like to publicly thank Sir Alex Ferguson for making me the player I am today.

‘I will always hold precious memories of my time at Manchester United and Old Trafford as well as the players, who I regard as part of my family, and the brilliant fans who have given me so much support over the years and continue to do so.

‘I recognise that this is an amazing opportunity for me at this stage in my career and a unique and exciting experience for my family. I know that I will always regret it later in life if I had turned down the chance to play at another great club like Real Madrid, which also has world-class players.’

Indeed the player joined talents Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane and Raul at the club – but his signing during the close season in 2003 preceded a barren four year spell, during which they were eclipsed by bitter Catalan rivals Barcelona.

Beckham’s appearance also changed during his time in Spain, with the star trading corn rows and top knots for a longer, bleached blonde look before shaving his hair off prior to the tournament – a look he first debuted in 2000 while playing for Manchester United against Leicester City.

His tattoo collection was also steadily growing; after getting the first, Brooklyn’s Christian name, etched into his lower back in 1999 he became increasingly daring with his design choices.

Beckham’s next tattoo, a large guardian angel between his shoulder blades, was followed in 2000 by his wife’s name, tattooed in Hindi on his inner left forearm – although the inking suffered an unfortunate misspelling, reading Vihctoria rather than its intended Victoria.

In 2001 he chose the Latin inscription Perfectio In Spiritu – meaning Spiritual Perfection – on his inner right forearm and Ut Amem Et Foveam – meaning So That I Love And Cherish – on his left, while second son Romeo’s name was also added alongside a classic art design on his right shoulder.

During the 2004 Euros it was a winged cross on the back of his neck that caught the eye due to its prominence.

That year he would begin work on his famous sleeve tattoos by getting a large angel inked onto his right arm with the telling inscription In The Face Of Adversity.

Referring to his various designs during an interview with CNN in 2013, he admitted he loved all of them.

‘I have 32 and I don’t regret any of them,’ he said. ‘They all have a meaning. I think that’s what’s important about tattoos, if they have a meaning you’ll never regret them.’

In 2005, David and Victoria welcomed the birth of Cruz, their third son and first to be born outside London.

During a four year stay in Madrid the player threw himself into off-field endeavors with goodwill charity UNICEF, becoming a Goodwill Ambassador with a special focus on UNICEF’s Sports for Development program in 2005.

There were further accolades, including a surprise O.B.E after being named in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to sport.

‘Its superb news,’ proud father Ted told MailOnline shortly after hearing of his son’s appointment at Buckingham Palace. ‘You don’t think of these things when you’re younger and when you are first starting out in football, all you want to do is concentrate on the game.’

“I imagine he’ll think “blimey, he’s only 28 and he’s got an O.B.E”. It’s superb.’

Beckham, who was joined by Victoria while receiving the award, later spoke of his joy, telling BBC 24: ‘It’s great to receive an award for playing football, for something I love doing.’

The accolade would be the only silverware Beckham would collect before winning his only major trophy with Real Madrid, the La Liga title, in 2007 – shortly after announcing he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Beckham’s announcement came at the end of a difficult year during which England suffered more World Cup disappointment by once again losing a quarter-final on penalties against Portugal.

It would be his final game as England captain, with Beckham tearfully announcing his desire to stand down in a press conference shortly after his team’s exit.

Addressing the world’s media, he said: ‘I came to (this decision) some time ago, but I hoped to leave on the back of a successful World Cup. Sadly it was not to be.

He added: ‘It has been an honour and privilege to captain my country. I have lived the dream. For that I will always be grateful.’

The move was followed by new England manager Steve McLaren’s shock decision to drop Beckham from the England squad altogether while the player was sidelined with an injury sustained during a Spanish league match in 2006.

His decision would prove to be folly, and Beckham was subsequently recalled by McLaren as England struggled to qualify for the 2008 European Championships.

However, it would prove to be too late for the Three Lions and the player cold do little to prevent the team failing to reach the tournament following a disastrous 2-3 defeat at the hands of Croatia on a wet, miserable night at Wembley Stadium.

At club level the future appeared to be more promising, and Beckham’s move from Madrid paved the way for a highly lucrative £128 million deal with American football club Los Angeles Galaxy.

Referring to the unconventional move, Beckham later admitted that football development, rather than financial gain, was the motivating factor.

‘I don’t want to go out to America at 34 years old and people be turning round saying, “Well he’s only going there to get the money’,” he said at the time. ‘I’ve enjoyed my time in Spain, it’s been an incredible experience for me and the family.

‘But I think another challenge has come up and I think it’s the right time for us to do it. Soccer is huge all around the world except in America and that’s where I want to make a difference.’

At a time when US football represented semi-retirement – and a generous pay-day – for players in the twilight of their careers, Beckham helped transform Major league Soccer following his marquee signing for the Galaxy in 2007, a move co-funded by the Anschutz Entertainment Group, owners of Los Angeles Galaxy and the Millennium Dome.

Quickly taking over as club captain, the player’s clout as a global brand helped boost revenue at the club’s Home Depot stadium and served to promote ‘soccer’ to a wider American fan-base.

He would also help transform the club’s fortunes, turning them from a beleaguered MLS side to championship winners with back to back triumphs in 2011 and 2012.

Loan spells at Italian side AC Milan extended his England career, but he would be inconsolable in 2010 when an achilles injury sustained while playing for the Serie A side ruled him out of what would have been his fourth World Cup, in South Africa.

‘We hope he will be fit for the next year,’ England manager Fabio Capello told Sky Sports News. ‘I hope he will be fit for the Euros, next qualifying. He’s always one of the best players in England.

‘David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow.’

Away from football the relaxed, healthy lifestyle favoured in LA suited the Beckham family, and they thrived at a sprawling, £13.5 million property in Beverly Hills.

There was also personal joy for David and Victoria with the birth of fourth child Harper, their only daughter, in California on July 10 2011.

But despite settling well in California, Victoria moved back to the United Kingdom in 2013 while David slowly wound down his career with the Galaxy before returning to Europe for a short-lived stay at French side Paris saint Germain.

‘You know, I’m so happy to be back in London, we all are,’ she told MailOnline shortly after returning to the UK. ‘The kids go to fantastic schools, they have lots of friends and our family live in London, we’re very proud to be British.’

With the Beckham family back in the UK, David ended his career with aplomb by helping PSG to their first league title in 19 years – making him the first Englishman to win league titles in four different countries.

Beckman then announced his decision to walk away from the game after turning down a one year extension at the club.

‘I’m thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level,’ he said in a statement.

‘If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over one hundred times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy.

‘I’m fortunate to have realised those dreams.’

Beckham’s influence in football has continue in the years since, however, with the star exercising an option in his LA Galaxy contract to buy an MLS expansion team.

Despite continued delays when attempting to secure a stadium, MLS gave approval for the Beckham-backed Inter Miami in 2018, with the team making their debut in the league two years later.

Beckham’s involvement gave the new team international attention, which has only grown in recent years due a slew of high-profile signings. The most high-profile of which was arrival of Barcelona and Argentina legend Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player of all time.

Messi’s arrival coincided with the club winning the Supporters Shield for the first time in 2024, as well as triumphing in the Leagues Cup. Inter Miami are expected to gain further global attention when they feature at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup this summer.

Beckham, who has a statue of him outside LA Galaxy’s stadium, looks likely to be a visible presence in the build-up to next summer’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico, having been a vocal supporter of their bid to stage the tournament.

The star, however, did face criticism for his decision to accept a reported £125million to be an ambassador for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, despite the host nation coming under scrutiny over its human rights record and stance of LGBTQ rights.

While Beckham has continued to have a global role within the sport, he has also been involved closer to home through Salford City, having opted to buy a take in 2019 to join his fellow Man United Class of ’92 team-mates. The club are currently in League Two, but have stalled in their push to rise up the divisions.

He also transitioned from the pitch to a supportive dad in the stands, as son Romeo attempted to follow in his father’s footsteps. Romeo played for Inter Miami’s reserve side from 2021 to 2023, before joining Premier League outfit Brentford on an initial loan. 

David was pictured in the stands at several of Romeo’s matches as he turned out for the Bees B-team, later signing an initial one-year contract at the club. Romeo reportedly then decided to step away from the game.

Since his retirement, Beckham has worked with a number of marquee brands including the likes of Adidas, Tudor, Hugo Boss, Stella Artois and Sands.

Last month, Beckham announced the launch of a new fundraising appeal with UNICEF in the build-up to his 50th birthday.

Beckham has worked with UNICEF for 20 years as a Goodwill Ambassador – a role that has seen him raise awareness on issues such as education, health, immunisation, and protection.

The new appeal will help to improve the lives of girls and adolescent girls globally who are impacted by child marriage, female genital mutilation, violence and abuse.

‘We are witnessing a global funding crisis where the most vulnerable children are suffering the most and urgently need our help. Please support my birthday fundraiser.

‘Next month, I turn 50. It’s a major milestone that has made me think about the opportunities I’ve had and the experiences that have shaped me.

‘As I look back, some of the moments that have had the most impact on me have come through my work with @UNICEF. As a father of four amazing children, I know how lucky my family is to be safe and have access to education and healthcare.

‘I’ve met children living in the toughest situations all over the world and I’ve seen what can happen when they are given the support they need to take control of their lives.

‘Today, 25 years since my first visit to a women’s centre in Thailand, the world is a very difficult place for children – especially girls.

‘That’s why I’m launching a fundraising appeal for my birthday. I want the children who need us to believe that their voice will be heard.

‘So if you, like me, believe that every child should have the chance to achieve their full potential, please click the link in my bio to donate. Whatever you can give will make a difference to children’s lives.’

Last year, Beckham was appointed as Ambassador for The King’s Foundation, vowing to support the charities work and helping younger people to learn more about rural skills. The appointment sparked further suggestions Beckham could ultimately secure a knighthood.

Beckham’s support of rural projects came amid the revelation in his documentary of his love of bee-keeping, which he fell in love with during the pandemic. He has regularly shared updates from his £6million Cotswolds farmhouse with fans as he tends to his garden and chickens on their estate.

He has, however, showed no signs of slowly down his business ventures with other endeavours having included founding the content studio, Studio 99, back in 2019. The studio documentaries about Man United’s Treble winning-season and snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan. The most notable release was the documentary series ‘Beckham’, which was released in October 2023.

The series gave an unprecedented look at David’s career journey and a glimpse at the start of their romance and marriage. His documentary amassed a record breaking 3.8million viewers during its premiere week.

It was also nominated for Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Picture Editing and Outstanding Music Composition.

Beckham has since revealed he has convinced Victoria to have her own documentary looking back on her own career.

Later this month he will also launch Beckham & Friends Live on Paramount+, with the chat show centred around Champions League matches. He will be talking through all the action of the semi-final second legs between Inter Milan and Barcelona, and PSG and Arsenal on May 6 and 7, before jetting over to Germany for the final on May 31.

Beckham also previously teased that he will likely be joined by a different celebrity friend for each edition of his ‘watch party’ show. He is set to provide alternative commentary on six games over the next two years.

He said: ‘I love watching the game, and I like watching the game in a certain way, and most of the time it is either with my kids or my friends.

‘So it’s going to be that kind of thing, where I’m sat there watching the games, commenting on the games, with friends, talking about the game and not sometimes talking about the game.’

Beckham’s global stardom and influence in sport was reflected last month as he began his month-long 50th birthday celebrations with an event in Miami. The celebrations were launched at his and wife Victoria’s favourite restaurant in the city, Cipriani.

Messi, Tom Brady and other A-list sporting legends were among those to attend the bash.

Posing for a beaming snap alongside longtime pals Gabe Turner, David Gardner and Ben Winston, he gushed on Instagram: ‘Friends for life’.

Another photo saw him embracing Gardner, who he first became friends with while on Manchester United’s youth team as teenagers, sweetly captioned: ‘Love ya Mate. 35 years between us’.

David was also joined by players from his Inter Miami team – Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Messi.

While he poked fun at his diminutive looking stature as he posed next to American football star Tom Brady and basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, who towered over him with their respective 6ft4 and 7ft1 heights.

Hollywood stars Justin Theroux and Fisher Stevens were also in attendance, as well as Grammy winner Marc Anthony, Jack Whitehall, Eva Longoria and Spice Girl Mel B.

When questioned whether he was concerned by reaching the milestone birthday, Beckham told Men’s Health earlier this year ‘Doesn’t bother me one bit’.

‘People are asking me about it gently, like it should be a big issue,’ Beckham said. It’s not something that I’m worried about, as long as I’m fit and healthy and my family are healthy, that’s all I care about.

‘I’m really happy. I’ve got the business and an amazing family. My kids are working hard and they’ve all got passions – that’s what’s important to me.’

One of the major talking points ahead of Beckham’s birthday bash in London is over the attendance of Brookyln, amid rumours of a rift between the eldest son and his parents. The rumours began when Brooklyn was noticeably silent on his former Spice Girl mother’s birthday.

‘David adores his sons and he is so, so proud of how close they are,’ an associate revealed to The Mail last month.

‘He loves having a happy family that loves spending time together.

‘Family is everything to him. He is a working class boy who grew up with strong connections to his grandparents and parents, and he loves nothing more than to see his boys, and Harper, being so close.

‘While the location will be perfect and stunning, what he wants most is for his family to be around him, happily getting along. Right now, though, things aren’t great.

‘All everyone around them hopes is that they can mend any issues in time for the big day – for David.’