English football legend David Beckham is set to be honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, organizers announced on Tuesday, as the United States counts down to the FIFA World Cup, which it is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
The 51-year-old former England captain’s plaque on the famous Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles will be unveiled at a ceremony on June 12 ahead of the first game of the tournament on US soil between the United States and Paraguay in nearby Inglewood later that evening.
“David Beckham’s recognition with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in the Sports Entertainment category comes at a fitting moment as the United States prepares to host the FIFA World Cup,” said Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
“Beckham’s role in elevating soccer’s profile in America and his lasting influence on sports, entertainment, and global culture make this honor especially meaningful,” she said.
In a highly decorated club playing career, Beckham enjoyed most success at Manchester United where he won six Premier League titles and the Champions League – the latter as part of an unprecedented treble in 1999.
He went on to star for European giants Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as American MLS side LA Galaxy, and also made 115 appearances for England, who he represented at three World Cups.
Since retiring in 2013, he has become a co-owner of the American team Inter Miami CF, which signed Argentine superstar Lionel Messi and won the Major League Soccer Cup Championship last year.
Beckham, who was knighted by the United Kingdom’s King Charles III last year, has also ventured into the entertainment industry, co-founding the content production company Studio 99 in 2019.
Ever since meeting his wife Victoria, a former pop singer with the Spice Girls, in the late 1990s, Beckham has enjoyed global celebrity status far beyond the football pitch.
The World Cup kicks off on June 11 when co-host Mexico faces South Africa in Mexico City.
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