Former England football star David Beckham has been awarded the title of 'Sir' by the British royal family in recognition of his contributions to sports and charity.
According to British media reports, David Beckham has fulfilled his lifelong wish after finally being knighted by the British royal family. After being knighted, his wife Victoria will be referred to as Lady Beckham.
Following his knighthood, his former club Manchester United also extended their congratulations, stating, 'All members of Manchester United offer warm congratulations to David; this honor is well-deserved for him,' and also thanked him for his significant contributions to Manchester United.
A statement from Manchester United noted that since joining the youth academy at the age of 14, David has not only become an indelible legend for the football club but also an outstanding ambassador for the entire English football scene for more than 35 years.
David Beckham's football career began at Manchester United, where he played 394 matches and scored 85 goals. He later played for Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. For the English national team, he appeared 115 times, ranking third in England's historical appearances, and served as captain 59 times.
Beyond the field, David Beckham is also recognized for his contributions to British society, including his charitable work.
Since 2005, he has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founded the '7 Fund' aimed at helping vulnerable children worldwide. Furthermore, he supports several charitable organizations, including the Chelsea Pensioners, Help for Heroes, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Age UK, and London's Air Ambulance.
David Beckham expressed, 'I am fortunate to work in the field I am passionate about, and I am grateful that my work is being recognized. These endeavors have brought me a great sense of fulfillment.'
Reports indicate that he was nominated for knighthood in 2011 for assisting London in its Olympic bid, but a tax evasion controversy emerged. Subsequently, in 2017, alleged hacked emails were leaked, in which David Beckham expressed anger at the honors committee for not knighting him and was displeased that singer Katherine Jenkins was awarded an OBE, causing his dream of knighthood to slip away twice.