Football: The highs and lows of David Beckham's career

1) Manchester United debut (1992) Beckham made his Man Utd debut in a League Cup match against Brighton and Hove Albion. But progress would not be quick or easy: he had to wait until December 1994 to make his first Champions League appearance (scoring against Galatasary, above) and until April 1995 to make his first Premier League appearance Photograph: John Giles/PA Archive/Press Association Ima Photograph: John Giles/guardian.co.uk 2) Double triumph (1996) Ferguson famously embarrassed Alan Hansen by proving that you can win trophies with kids. Beckham was at the forefront: replacing Kanchelskis on the right, he was a regular for United and scored the winner in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea Photograph: Steve Morton/EMPICS Sport Photograph: Steve Morton/guardian.co.uk 3) Scores that goal (1996) Against Wimbledon on the opening day of the 1996 season, Beckham's iconic status was born. From within his own half, he outrageously lobbed Dons goalkeeper Neil Sullivan Photograph: Action Images Photograph: guardian.co.uk 4) England debut (1996) Two weeks on from his moment of opportunistic brilliance, Beckham earned his first England cap in a 3-0 win in Moldova, which was also Glenn Hoddle’s first game as manager Photograph: Darren Walsh/Action Images Photograph: Darren Walsh/guardian.co.uk 5) In need of a friend (1996) A high-octane second round World Cup clash with Argentina was level at 2-2 when Beckham stuck a boot out at agent provocateur Diego Simeone and was sent off. David Batty later missed a penalty, England went out and Beckham - goal-scoring hero in the previous game against Columbia - was subjected to months of thoroughly vicious abuse from the media and opposition fans Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/guardian.co.uk 6) A treble winner (1999) Lesser men would have fled to a foreign country rather than suffer such personal attacks. But Beckham braved it out, stayed at Old Trafford and was a pivotal man in the best season in Man Utd’s history. He ended the season playing in central midfield - proof he was more than just a brilliant crosser of a football Photograph: Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Patrick Hertzog/guardian.co.uk 7) England captain (2000) Proof of Beckham’s transformation and maturity arrived when he was selected to lead England out for the first time on November 15th 2000. The man who initially appointed him – Peter Taylor – may be no more than a footnote, but Beckham was fast metamorphosing from scapegoat to superstar Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Photograph: Shaun Botterill/guardian.co.uk 8) Captain fantastic (2001) Needing a result from their last World Cup qualifier against Greece, England were generally dire. But Beckham was extraordinary, dragging his side along with a performance of phenomenal willpower and determination, during which he is believed to have run more than 10 miles. His decisive 93rd minute free-kick was the culmination of his resurrection in the public’s eyes, as proved by him subsequently winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Photograph: Shaun Botterill/guardian.co.uk 9) Metartarsalgate (2002) Can a broken metatarsal ever have so worried a nation? An Argentinian – of course – Aldo Duscher, looked to have put Beckham out of the World Cup as he hobbled off for Manchester United in April. But he would not be kept down. First Beckham recovered; then, deliciously, England faced Argentina in the World Cup. England were awarded a penalty and Beckham snubbed Simeone’s outstretched hand before thumping in the game’s only goal. Though England were beaten in the quarter-finals by Brazil, Beckham had had his revenge Photograph: Matthew Ashton/EMPICS Sports Photo Agency Photograph: Matthew Ashton/guardian.co.uk 10) Ferguson lashes out (2003) The media attention Beckham was attracting invariably irked United boss Alex Ferguson, for whom the quiet professionalism of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes was always favourable. He had a notoriously prickly relationship with Beckham’s wife Posh, and when a flying boot from Ferguson hit Beckham after an FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, it seemed there could not be room for all three at Old Trafford ... and Ferguson would not be budging Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Archive/Press Association Ima Photograph: Martin Rickett/guardian.co.uk 11) Manchester to Madrid (2003) After months, indeed years, of incessant speculation, Beckham finally and reluctantly left after winning his sixth Premier League title, essentially forced out by Ferguson. After a tug-of-war with Barcelona, he joined the Galacticos at Real Madrid Photograph: Matthew Ashton/EMPICS Sport Photograph: Matthew Ashton/guardian.co.uk 12) World Cup tears (2006) After another penalty exit in 2006 and his own disappointing displays, Beckham resigned the captaincy, after almost six years Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Archive/Press Association Ima Photograph: Owen Humphreys/guardian.co.uk 13) Signing for LA Galaxy while at Real (2007) After four years at Real, Beckham was seemingly surplus to non-marketing requirements. To the shock of many, he signed for LA Galaxy before Real's season had even ended, believing he could transform football in the States. Beckham was subsequently told by Real manager Fabio Capello that he would never play for the club again Photograph: Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated Photograph: Simon Bruty/guardian.co.uk 14) Proving Capello wrong (2007) Beckham trained like a man possessed, forcing the obstinate Capello to backtrack. Beckham promptly scored on his ‘second debut’ and was instrumental as Real picked up silverware - for the first time since 2003 - and won La Liga in his last game Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Photograph: Denis Doyle/guardian.co.uk 15) McClaren sends out an SOS (2007) By now a pro in getting managers to change their minds, Beckham’s recall to the England team was further testament to his remarkable professionalism Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Mason/guardian.co.uk 16) Reborn in the USA (2007) Beckham's first opponents while State-side were tourists Chelsea. Beckham was only able to play as a late substitute and suffered a knee injury early in his Galaxy career which blotted his first campaign Photograph: Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated Photograph: Peter Read Miller/guardian.co.uk 17) 100th England cap (2008) Beckham became one of five players to have made 100 England appearances. He now has 115 caps - second only to Peter Shilton - a testament to his longevity as a player Photograph: Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport Photograph: Mike Egerton/guardian.co.uk 18) Signs for AC Milan on loan (2009) Capello would simply not pick someone who was not playing regularly in a top league. To continue to feature for England, Beckham needed to play in Europe once more, and his obvious relish in playing for Milan suggested a man ill-at-ease with his career in LA Photograph: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Giuseppe Cacace/guardian.co.uk 19) Final return to Old Trafford (2010) Returning for a second loan spell at AC Milan this year, Beckham was handed the chance to return to Old Trafford as a player. His side were thrashed, but Beckham was greeted like a returning hero and, at full-time, draped an anti-Glazer scarf around his neck Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/Press Association Images Photograph: Martin Rickett/guardian.co.uk 20) Injury for AC Milan (2010) Though he had not appeared for England since October, Beckham was all set to go to his fourth World Cup. But a cruel Achilles injury while playing for Milan ended those hopes, and Beckham once again found himself on the back and front pages alike Photograph: Claudio Villa/Getty Images Photograph: Claudio Villa/guardian.co.uk