Beckham at 40: Eight defining moments

Wimbledon wondergoal
Already a Premier League winner with Manchester United FC and well on his way to earning England honours, David Beckham's goal at Selhurst Park against Wimbledon FC made him a household name. Having established himself as a first-teamer the previous season in a double-winning campaign – alongside fellow 'Fergie fledglings' Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt – he made sure there were no doubts about his talent on the opening day of 1996/97.

Spotting Neil Sullivan off his line, the midfielder floated a shot over the goalkeeper from the halfway line with technique that would become his trademark. "It changed my life," Beckham said of the goal. "I was on cloud nine. I just wanted to shake everybody's hand and be out on the pitch for an hour."

Agony against Argentina
Handed his England debut against Moldova by Glenn Hoddle two weeks after his strike at Wimbledon, Beckham was an everpresent in qualifying and helped the Three Lions to the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. Omitted from the starting XI for the first two group games he responded with a free-kick – his first international goal – in the key 2-0 win against Colombia, but things went sour in the round of 16 tie against Argentina.

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With the scores at 2-2 he kicked out at Diego Simeone early in the second half to receive a red card, and though England took the match to penalties, many back home blamed him for the defeat. "Don't let it get you down. You are going to come back stronger and better," former England captain Tony Adams told a desolate Beckham in the dressing room afterwards. The Arsenal FC man was spot on.

UEFA Champions League glory
After receiving a hostile reception at certain grounds around England with fans holding the midfielder responsible for the World Cup exit, Beckham set out to answer his critics with his club form. Dovetailing perfectly in a midfield combining the talents of Scholes, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs, United swept all before them at home and abroad. Beating Arsenal to the Premier League by a point, Sir Alex Ferguson's men brushed aside Newcastle United FC in the FA Cup final.

However, the icing on the cake came in Barcelona as two Beckham corners caused late chaos in the FC Bayern München ranks, allowing United to strike twice in the dying minutes to complete a remarkable comeback and secure a second European title. "Everything erupted," Beckham remembered of the winning goal. "It was what was meant to happen."

England redemption
Beckham's international redemption was completed in October 2001 as his last-gasp heroics grabbed England a place at the 2002 World Cup. Despite being given the captaincy in 2000 and aiding Sven-Göran Eriksson's troops to a famous 5-1 victory in Germany, he was not truly accepted by all the England support until his added-time free-kick earned a 2-2 draw with Greece that helped the Three Lions top their qualification group.

It was not just the free-kick, but Beckham was head and shoulders above every other player on the pitch that day, the performance establishing the skipper as the team's talisman. "We had to dig deep, the captain did that when we needed it," said forward Teddy Sheringham. "He ran himself into the ground."

Winning over Madrid
After his transfer to Real Madrid CF in summer 2003, Beckham's four-season stint at the Santiago Bernabéu looked to be coming to an end with nothing more than a Spanish Super Cup to show for it. Having agreed a deal with LA Galaxy beginning in summer 2007, Madrid coach Fabio Capello dropped the 31-year-old that January and it was widely accepted his days in a white shirt were over. However, he impressed to such an extent in training that he forced a return and scored a trademark free-kick against Real Sociedad de Fútbol.

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"I started to see that he was working hard and he trained perfectly," said Capello at the time. "He was better than good. He has behaved like a great professional." Capello was rewarded for his decision as the Englishman proved pivotal in the run-in as Madrid took the title from FC Barcelona on head-to-head record.

Old Trafford return
Seven years after leaving Old Trafford, the former Red Devil got a hero's welcome as he returned to the club for the first time since his departure, in the colours of AC Milan – on loan from LA Galaxy. The Rossoneri were drawn against United in the round of 16 of the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League and Beckham started the first leg – a 3-2 loss at San Siro.

On the bench for the second leg, he was applauded onto the field – it may have helped that the hosts were 3-0 up – and did a lap of honour after the final whistle, leaving the pitch draped in a United scarf. "Receiving the applause that I did sent shivers down my spine," he said afterwards. "I became very emotional."

Three Lions landmark
Beckham became just the fifth Englishman to gain a century of international caps against France in March 2008, a big turnaround given it appeared his Three Lions career was over two years before. After stepping down as captain following a disappointing 2006 World Cup, new boss Steve McClaren dropped the 94-times capped Beckham altogether on his appointment, saying he wanted to take the side in a "new direction".

However, Beckham forced his way back into the team a year later and equalled Bobby Moore's outfield record of 108 caps in February 2009 against Spain before surpassing it against Slovakia that March. "I dedicate it to my family, because they are the ones who have been through the ups and downs," he said after overtaking Moore. "It meant a lot." Beckham went on to play 115 times for his country, second only to goalkeeper Peter Shilton (125).

A Parisian farewell
After finishing his United States adventure on a high with a second MLS Cup in December 2012, Beckham still had enough left in the tank at the age of 37 to have a final crack at Europe with Paris Saint-Germain.

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Signing in January 2013 until the end of the season, Beckham pledged to give his wages to charity while at the club, and though he could not guide Paris past Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, he did help them to their first Ligue 1 crown in 19 years. Handed the captain's armband on his last career outing, the Englishman lifted the trophy at the final whistle to enjoy a fitting finale. "It is a nice way to go out," he said. "The emotions started kicking in 20 minute before the end, it was hard to run, let alone kick a ball. It was an emotional night."