"Some people think that I haven't got the brains to be that clever. "

Kicking Around Near Tinsel Town

David Beckham is an English footballer who played for Real Madrid. He is the only Englishman to win three different World Cups. He signed on with California's LA Galaxy for 2007.

In 2006, the United States men's national soccer team, USMNT, signed Beckham to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy at $250 million for five years. The U.S. league is ranked 31st in the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) World Rankings and 23rd in the World Football Elo Ratings. For the 2006 season, LA Galaxy came in fifth place at the Western Conference, their worst season in history.

Beckham grew up with parents that were Manchester United Football Club supporters who traveled frequently to away games. He was always an exceptional athlete, a cross-country runner who finish first in he age group in the Essex championships. Beckham attended a Bobby Charlton football school in Manchester. He began his football career as manchester United's mascot in 1986 and made his first appearance for the team in 1992 as a substitute in a League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Beckham helped United reach the final of the Youth Cup that year and win their league in 1994. He attended Preston North in 1994 to get first team experience, and in April 1995 he made his first Premier League appearance for Manchester United.

While with Manchester United, he helped them win The Treble of League, FA Cup, and Champions League in 1999. In 2003, Manchester United had thought of selling Beckham to Barcelona. Refusing to go, he signed a four-year contract with Real Madrid. When he transfer, he hoped to continue wearing his number 7. However, is was already being used by Madrid, Raul Gonzalez so he took number 23 on behalf of Michael Jordon.

Beckham was an immediate favorite of Real Madrid supports, however personal challenges and season loses disappointed him. Allegations were set into place by News of the World that he had an extramarital affair with his former personal assistant, Rebecca Loos. In his second season he admitted to intentionally fouling Ben Thatcher in a match against Wales to get himself booked.

In January 2005 he became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and was involved in promoting the 2012 Olympic Games. Real Madrid finished with a disappointing season, second to Barcelona in La Liga and only reached the last sixteen in the Champions League.

In 2006, after England's quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Germany, he resigned as England's captain. He was dropped from the England national team by coach Steve McClaren on August 11, 2006. His performances were criticized after the World Cup, but her presence on the team was vital to their wins over Paraguay and Ecuador-- previously England rarely won an opening game.

He and his wife have amassed a fortune at $156 million. Beckham as a brand name continues to earn money from commercial sponsorship: an estimated $6.3 million from Adidas, $15.5 million from Motorola, and $8 million from Pepsi and Gillette, of annual income.

In addition to commercial sponsorship, Beckham has his own cologne, Instinct, produced under his own label, Beckham Ltd, in partnership with his wife's cosmetic company, Intimately Her.

He is married to Spice Girl "Posh Spice," Victoria Adams. The family have became known as "Posh Becks" and have three sons: Brooklyn (1999), Romeo (2002), and Cruz (2005). In April 2006, Beckham admitted to his obsessive-compulsive disorder. He recently hosted the "World Cup Party - Full Length and Fabulous" at his mansion in Hertfordshire, which raised money for three charities.