Celebrity, fashion icon, salesman for myriad of products; it is sometimes difficult to focus on the football. To his credit, Beckham has remained a highly effective performer for much of his career. And just when his star seems set to dim, he has always seemed able to resurrect himself. Determination has been as great a factor in his success as good looks.
Not blessed with the pace or natural skill of many of his contemporaries from the Manchester United finishing school, Beckham's engine, passing range and dead-ball skills, borne out of countless hours spent on the training ground, have made him a hugely effective performer for Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy and his country. And he is still hallowed at Preston North End, where he made his league debut, while on loan from United during 1994/5.
A Londoner by birth, he nevertheless sought and found his footballing fortunes at United, the club his 'Cockney Red' father had indoctrinated him into. Part of United's famous 1992 Youth Cup winning side, he emerged as a first-teamer during the 1994/5 season, making his United league debut against Leeds United.
The moment it all changed for him was the opening day of the 1996/7 season, when a goal from the halfway line at Wimbledon announced him as a star of the present, let alone future.
Though by this point, many had forgotten the football. And when Beckham became a pariah after his sending off at the 1998 World Cup, it became harder to separate the image from the footballer.
That Beckham followed his shame by having the best season of his career said much about that determination. United won their fabled 1998/9 Treble with the denouement in the Nou Camp resulting from two typically struck Beckham corners.
Vindication was to follow on the international stage. Granted the captaincy in 2000 as England sought to establish a new era, Beckham raised his game to become a captain who inspired by example if not words; he has never been the most articulate of souls.
Beckham-mania followed when his last-minute free-kick against Greece propelled England to the 2002 World Cup. If anything, the hype intensified when his metatarsal was fractured in the build-up to Japan and Korea. A half-fit Beckham broke the hoodoo of France '98 by scoring the winning goal against Argentina. From there, like his colleagues, he faded in the Far East sun and is yet to perform well in a major tournament. If Euro 2004 was bad, Germany 2006 was disastrous and his ceding of the captaincy in July 2006 came after six years in which England never matched the ravenous hype that surrounded them.
An infamous incident with a flying boot didn't help and nor did the usual courting tactics of Real Madrid. United sold him to Real Madrid for a fee of £25m in June 2003. It was move that, in footballing terms, took a while to work for any of the parties.
The 'Galacticos' era may have matched his celebrity status, yet Beckham would remain trophyless at the Bernabeu until the very last game of his time there; the Liga title of 2007. Nevertheless, he was a popular player in Spain, where his all-action style set him apart from exalted colleagues whose level of effort was often in question.
Like his exit from Old Trafford, a move to America for 'Brand Beckham' always seemed a distinct possibility. In taking Beckham at 33, LA Galaxy secured the services of a player who still had something to give. Contract negotiations with Real were rendered meaningless by a five-year deal worth $250million that was announced in January 2007.
Beckham has described his American adventure as 'a new challenge'. Despite a first year riven with injury, it is said that his paymasters have made their money back already. Opposing clubs have seen a spike in attendance, and fans have been able to see the qualities that Beckham is able to bring to a football field as he continues to reinvent himself as a footballer.
Galaxy again failed to perform in the 2008 MLS season, not making the play-offs and ranked as one of the worst teams in the competition. Beckham missed numerous games while on England duty with Fabio Capello's England and, desperate to stay in the coach's thoughts during the US off season, negotiated a return to Europe with AC Milan in January 2009.
Though the move to Serie A was for just two months before the start of the next MLS season it may well be that Beckham covets a move back to the more competitive European game. With Milan he will stay fit and playing with his dream of playing at the 2010 World Cup still in his sights. Only time will tell if it benefits Milan as a business or as a team.
