David Beckham has retired from football, bringing an end to a glittering career on the field.
Since his debut for Manchester United two decades ago, the 38-year-old has emerged as arguably the most iconic sportsman of his generation, captaining England, collecting 115 caps, and celebrated as a champion in four different countries - the only British footballer in history to do so.
Despite the offer of an extended one-year deal at Paris Saint-German, the 38-year-old has played his last game, bowing out on a high after helping Carlo Ancelotti's side win the French title for the first time in 19 years.
Confirming the blockbuster announcement, Beckham said: '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.'
Out on a high: Beckham is retiring after helping Carlo Ancelotti's PSG win the title for the French first time in 19 years, which he celebrated emphatically with team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right)
Fond farewell: Beckham soaked up the applause in Paris earlier this week during PSG's open-top bus title parade
BECKHAM'S CAREER BY NUMBERS
Manchester United - 394 games, 85 goals
Preston North End (loan) - 5 games 2 goals
Real Madrid - 115 games 20 goals
LA Galaxy - 118 games 20 goals
AC Milan - 33 games goals 2
PSG - 11 games 0 goals
'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 realized those dreams.'
On the international stage, centurion Beckham holds the England record for making 115 appearances as an outfield player for the national team.
'To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country,' Beckham added.
Make mine a treble: Beckham memorably won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League with Manchester United in 1999 (above and below)
BECKHAM'S TROPHY CABINET
Manchester United
Premier League – 1996, 1997, 1999, 200, 2001, 2003
Champions League – 1999
FA Cup - 1996, 1999
Community Shield – 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997
Intercontinental Cup – 1999
FA Youth Cup – 1992
Premier League – 1996, 1997, 1999, 200, 2001, 2003
Champions League – 1999
FA Cup - 1996, 1999
Community Shield – 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997
Intercontinental Cup – 1999
FA Youth Cup – 1992
Real Madrid
La Liga - 2007
Spanish Super Cup – 2003
La Liga - 2007
Spanish Super Cup – 2003
LA Galaxy
MLS Cup – 2011, 2012
MLS Cup – 2011, 2012
Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1 - 2013
Ligue 1 - 2013
'I knew every time I wore the Three Lions shirt, I was not only following in a long line of great players, I was also representing every fan that cared passionately about their country.
'I'm honored to represent England both on and off the pitch ... I want to thank all my team-mates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from.
'I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed.'
The trailblazing midfielder - who played for some of the biggest clubs in the world such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, as well as Los Angeles Galaxy - is now set to continue his ambassadorial duties with a variety of organisations, which include Sky Sports, adidas, Unicef and promoting football in China.
Beckham's last game of football will be on the synthetic pitch at Lorient's 18,110-capacity Stade du Moustoir, with the last home match of his career this Saturday against Brest at Parc des Princes.
Bend it like Beckham: Arguably his finest moment in an England shirt, captain Beckham scored this priceless last-minute free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford to send England to the 2002 World Cup
National hero: Beckham was adored by the nation and rightly celebrated after his wondrous display in October 2001
VIDEO: Beckham's greatest goals
He said: 'Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love, however I feel like I'm starting a new adventure and I'm genuinely excited about what lies ahead.
'I'm fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back.'
Having relocated from LA in January, Beckham is expected to set up a permanent base in London with his wife Victoria and children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper.
'I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family. I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realise my dreams,' he added.
'I owe everything to Victoria and the kids, who have given me the inspiration and support to play at the highest level for such a long period. I also want to thank Simon Fuller and his team for their continued support.
'I want to thank all my team-mates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from. I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed.'
Pride of Britain: Beckham won the MLS title twice during his time at Los Angeles Galaxy
King of Spain: Beckham left Real Madrid as a champion in 2007, while he impressed during his time at Milan (R)
His vast fortune of an estimated £165million comfortably makes him the richest athlete ever in British sport, with a host of lucrative sponsorship deals and salary payments over the last decade amassing his wealth.
Born in Leytonstone, Beckham started out with Ridgeway Rovers before being singled out by Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton at a Soccer School in Barcelona.
At 14, he signed schoolboy terms at Old Trafford and joined the likes of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt in United's famous youth class of 1992, going on to make his first-team debut against Brighton in the League Cup that same year.
Controversy: David Beckham was infamously sent off against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup in Saint-Etienne
Headlines: Frustrated Beckham kicked out at Diego Simeone, leading to his dismissal and sparking a national frenzy after England's exit - this was the front page of the Daily Mail, the following morning (right)
Revenge: Beckham put four years of personal anguish behind him as his penalty sunk Argentina at the Sapporo during the group stage at the 2002 World Cupg
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson sent him out on loan to Preston North End to gain first-team experience, before returning to make his Premier League debut for United in the draw with Leeds in April 1995.
it wasn't until a year later that Beckham would really announce himself on the big stage, scoring an unforgettable goal from the halfway-line at Selhurst Park against Wimbledon on the opening day of the 1996-97 season.
VIDEO: Great Beckham memories
More to follow...
DAVID BECKHAM FACTFILE
1975: Born Leytonstone, May 2.
1991: Joins Manchester United as trainee.
1992: Makes debut against Brighton in the League Cup on September 23. Wins FA Youth Cup.
1993: Signs professional contract at Old Trafford.
1995: Joins Preston on loan in February and scores two goals in five games.
1996: Helps United to Premier League and FA Cup double.
Scores goal of the season on opening day at Wimbledon, lobbing Neil Sullivan from the halfway line. Makes his England debut in the 3-0 win in Moldova.
1997: Collects another championship winners' medal, voted PFA Young Player of the Year.
1998: Scores first England goal, a free-kick against Colombia in Lens on June 26. Sent off in second-round penalty shoot-out defeat against Argentina.
1999: Helps United win the Premier League, FA Cup and European Cup after coming from behind to beat Bayern Munich with two late goals.
Runner-up in World Player of the Year awards, behind Rivaldo.
2000: May - Collects fourth championship winner's medal as United win title by a record 18 points.
November - Named England captain for the November friendly with Italy in Turin by stand-in boss Peter Taylor.
2001: May - Collects another Premier League title with United.
October - Curls in a 25-yard last-minute free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford to earn England a 2-2 draw and send them into World Cup finals.
2002: May 11 - Signs new three-year contract reported to be worth between £90,000 and £100,000 a week.
June 7 - Scores from the penalty spot in the World Cup group stage match against Argentina to seal a 1-0 win.
England bow out in the quarter-finals at the hands of eventual winners Brazil.
2003: February - Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson accidentally kicks a boot into Beckham's face in frustration at United's FA Cup defeat to Arsenal.
June 14 - Awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to football.
June 17 - United announce they have accepted a £25million bid from Real Madrid for Beckham, who agrees personal terms.
2004: June 24 - Misses a penalty as England lose to Portugal in a shoot-out in the Euro 2004 quarter-finals in Lisbon.
2005: November: Captains England for 50th time in friendly against Argentina in Geneva.
July 2 - Stands down as England captain.
August 11 - Dropped from squad for friendly against Greece, Steve McClaren's first match as manager.
2007: January 11 - Beckham announces he will leave Real Madrid and join Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy on a five-year contract in August.
January 13 - Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello says Beckham will never play for the club again.
May 26 - McClaren hands Beckham a shock England recall for matches against Brazil and Estonia.
June - Wins the La Liga title with Madrid, having won back his place in the team.
August 16 - Beckham scores his first goal for Galaxy on his full debut in the SuperLiga semi-final meeting with DC United with a trademark free-kick.
2008: March 26 - Wins 100th cap in the friendly against France.
October 30 - Milan announce Beckham will join them on loan on January 7, 2009.
2009: January 11 - Makes shock first start for Milan in 2-2 Serie A draw at Roma.
March 9 - AC Milan announce that under a unique 'timeshare' agreement, Beckham will stay with them in Italy until the end of the season, return to the Galaxy from July to October and then rejoin the Serie A club for the rest of the 2009-10 campaign.
March 28 - Comes on as a half-time substitute against Slovakia at Wembley to win his 109th cap and break Bobby Moore's record for an outfield player.
July 20, 27 - Twice confronts fans who gave him a hostile reception in his first home games after returning to the Galaxy.
2010: March 14 - Tears his Achilles tendon in AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo - an injury that rules him out of the World Cup.
June - Part of England's backroom staff for World Cup campaign which ends in second-round defeat to Germany.
August 11 - England career appears to be at an end when Capello tells ITV: 'Probably he is a little bit old.'
2011: November 20 - Wins the MLS Cup as the Galaxy beat Houston Dynamo 1-0 in the final.
December 31 - Five-year deal at the Galaxy expires.
2012: January 19 - Re-signs with the Galaxy.
June 28 - Announces he has not been included in Team GB's squad for the Olympic Games.
November 16 - Football Federation Australia claim a representative of Beckham approaches them with a view to the midfielder making a short-term move to the A-League in the MLS off-season. A Beckham spokesman says his client has "absolutely no plans to play in Australia".
November 20 - Confirms he is to leave the Galaxy after MLS Cup on December 1.
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