“My Greatest Achievement Will Always Be My Family”.
David Beckham turns 50 years old on Friday, May 3, and marked the occasion with a heartfelt Instagram post reflecting on his personal and professional journey. Despite a life filled with sporting accolades, fashion ventures, and global fame, the former England captain made it clear: family is his proudest legacy.
A Life of Global Success, Grounded in Gratitude
Born in London in 1975, Beckham described himself as “blessed” and “thankful” for everything life has given him. He reminisced about his time with iconic clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, and PSG, his years as England’s captain, his business achievements, and his ongoing commitment to philanthropy.
“My greatest achievement is and always will be my family,” Beckham wrote, alongside a carousel of personal photos tracing his journey from aspiring footballer to cultural icon.
He also paid tribute to his parents, Ted and Sandra, for the sacrifices they made to help him pursue his dreams, and to his sisters, whom he joked had to endure watching him play “in all kinds of weather.”
Victoria Beckham’s Heartfelt Tribute
His wife, Victoria Beckham, shared her own loving message on social media. The fashion designer and former Spice Girl, with whom David has four children (Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper), posted a touching video filled with candid moments and family memories.
“You’re everything I could have dreamed of and more. Happy 50th, @DavidBeckham. I love you endlessly, and our beautiful family. You complete me.”
Her tribute was met with an outpouring of affection from fans and celebrities alike, recognizing Beckham not just for his public persona, but for his role as a devoted father and partner.
Who were his most valuable ever teammates?
This Friday marks a very special birthday for a special player. Not many footballers have encapsulated the sport’s globalism more than former England, Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham. The figurehead of England’s ‘Golden generation’ played football in five different countries and two different continents and was a genuine superstar. David Beckham turned 50 years old today.
To celebrate this iconic birthday for this iconic player we have looked back on Beckham’s career stats and also trawled through the star-studded list of teammates he played alongside.
David Beckham enjoyed the peak of his career at Manchester United, where he rose through the youth academy, and at Real Madrid, where he became one of the club’s iconic ‘Galacticos’. His goal and assist statistics from both clubs are shown above, and it’s clear that for much of his career, he consistently delivered over 20 goal contributions (goals + assists) per season. Renowned for his exceptional right foot, Beckham became synonymous with pinpoint free-kicks and accurate crosses. Over the course of his stellar career, he shared the pitch with some of the game’s greatest. Let’s explore the most valuable players who made 10 or more appearances alongside the former England captain. Legends, all around.
David Beckham’s most valuable teammates from across his career
David Beckham’s most valuable teammates
Topping the list is none other than Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. Beckham shared the pitch with the samba maestro in 20 matches at AC Milan, during the twilight of both their careers. Ronaldinho reached a peak market value of €80 million. In second place is another San Siro star—Kaká—who hit a career-high value of €70 million and featured alongside Beckham in 14 games for Milan. Third on the list is Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer, Wayne Rooney, valued at €65 million. While the two never played together at Old Trafford—Beckham left for Madrid a year before Rooney’s arrival—they did team up 39 times for the England national team.
In fourth place is legendary Spanish defender Sergio Ramos (€50m), a five-time Champions League winner who featured in 63 matches alongside Beckham at Real Madrid, with the two stars at opposite stages of their careers. Fifth is former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard (€50m), who shared the pitch with Beckham in 57 appearances for the Three Lions. Next is iconic Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović (€46m), who played 13 games with Beckham during their time together at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The brilliant Brazilian forward Ronaldo (€45m) takes eighth, having made 104 appearances alongside Beckham at Real Madrid. Ruud van Nistelrooy (€40m) ranks ninth, playing 109 times with Beckham across spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid. Rounding out the top 10 is Thiago Silva (€40m), who lined up with Beckham 20 times while at AC Milan and PSG.
When we assemble a starting XI made up of the most valuable players David Beckham played alongside, the result is a formidable lineup packed with world-class talent. Iker Casillas (€35m), former Real Madrid and Spain captain, takes his place in goal, with Sergio Ramos and Thiago Silva forming a rock-solid centre-back pairing. Legendary Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos (€30m) slots in at left-back, while Italian star Gianluca Zambrotta (€28m) covers the right flank. In midfield, it’s an all-star trio of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Kaká. Leading the attack are Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Wayne Rooney, creating an electrifying forward line.
