By: Julie Ane
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Soccer, or football as it’s called around the world, may not be as American as baseball and apple pie, but talent is talent no matter where you are! David Beckham has been called the most famous soccer player in the world – and certainly one of the most beautiful.
With his dazzling good looks and incredible sense of style, 35-year-old “Becks” has evolved into one of the most sought after brands in the world of fashion and beyond. Peep the gorgeous repertoire!
In May 1992, at the young age of 17, Beckham made his royal entrance into the soccer world where he soon became king. He joined Manchester United where he won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice and the UEFA Champion’s League in 1999. Football would never be the same.
In 1997, Beckham began dating Spice Girl Victoria Adams a.k.a. Posh Spice. This union began a lovestruck ascent to being the most famous international power couple in the world. They married on July 4, 1999.
As we entered the new millennium, David’s professional career was at an all time high. He was captain of England from November 2000 until the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and is currently England’s most-capped outfield player with 115 appearances.
His looks made several transitions as well. From buzz cut to mohawk, he has been a bona fide trendsetter, compelling young fans to sport the same styles over the past decade.
In 2002, David became the premise for the critically acclaimed Bend It Like Beckham, a story about an Indian teen who chooses to buck Indian tradition for a chance to become a football player like her idol. The title refers to a style of play that Beckham became famous for – curving the soccer ball past defenders and towards the goalpost.
This only added to his soaring celebrity and by that time, Becks was the equivalent to our Michael Jordan in that he was the most famous football player in the world. He also made the mohawk world famous at the 2002 FIFA World Cup championships…
It wasn’t long before he grew his hair out, only to make headlines once again. Beckham’s hair was hot international news!
Not too many guys, straight guys at least, can make a headband look masculine and downright sexy, but Becks pulled it off with ease.
Soccer’s golden boy and his long locks took it to the hood with golden cornrows. With ice in his ears and braided up, you have to admit this Brit had major swag!
Not only were the young football fans and women taking notice of this man with innovative style, but so were the fashion houses. It wasn’t long before Beckham became a mainstay on everyone’s best dressed list and a true fashion icon. Great looks. Great style. Great athlete. He had it all!
In 2007 Becks modeling career was in full swing as he posed in a campaign British retailer Marks & Spencer.
David also signed a deal with LA Galaxy in 2007 which guaranteed him $6.5 million per year for five years. So what better place for a sports icon to celebrate his status with glitz and glamour than Hollywood? David and family moved to Beverly Hills, where they still reside, and America embraced them.
By November 2007, Beckham signed his first formal clothing contract with Giorgio Armani to advertise the Emporio Armani men’s underwear. The series of hot ads (with a dashing 5:00 shadow look) went up in January 2008; and so did Armani underwear sales – by 30 percent! Sex really does sell – well.
And even Armani was all in the family… 10 years of marriage never looked so beautiful!
In September 2008, David and Victoria launched their signature Beckham fragrance collection at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City. Donning a Tom Ford suit, he looked every bit the brand he had become.
In a move the Beckham children probably loved, David posed for Walt Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams ’08 campaign, photographed by Annie Leibovitz as Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty.
From football to fragrances, Beckham is the highest paid professional to ever kick a soccer ball, setting the blueprint for the younger soccer stars like Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldinho, the newest face of Emporio Armani men’s underwear.
More than just a soccer stud, David Beckham backs up his brand with more endorsements than any baller in the game both here and abroad, pitching for Motorola, PepsiCo, Vodafone, Gillette and more!
In 2009, he landed his own designs for adidas Originals Spring/Summer 2010, and appeared in a star-studded viral ad campaign alongside Snoop Dogg, Ciara, The City star Whitney Port, Mr. Hudson, DJ Neil Armstrong, former Cheetah Girl Adrienne Bailon and many others that debuted in March 2010. It just goes to show that street style can be timeless and ageless!
These days you can catch David Beckham all over L.A., mostly with family in tow.
He and Victoria still have that youthful romance in their ’10 Beckham Fragrance campaign too!
Forever the athlete, David Beckham is a mainstay at Lakers games, and the sexy Brit seems to have settled into the California lifestyle quite effortlessly. He’s right at home surrounded by the world’s superstars, and boy does he ever make mid-30’s look magnificent!
3 Comments
He is SO dreamy! And he really has gotten better looking with time…