David Beckham Retires As Soccer Superstar To Hang Up Cleats At End Of Season After Paris Saint-Germain League Title, Is He The Greatest Football Player To Ever Play The Sport?

May 16, 2013 11:20 AM EDT

David Beckham has announced that he is planning to retire at the end of the season, marking the finish of one of the greatest soccer careers in the world.

According to CNN.com, Beckham said he felt it was the right time and it comes after a year that saw him win titles with both the Los Angeles Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain. Beckham has won a number of other titles, including the Champions League with Manchester United as well as with Real Madrid, AC Milan and Los Angeles Galaxy. He signed with PSG after playing with the Galaxy and he also was a national player for England for many years, winning 115 caps.

Beckham is one of the richest athletes in the world and he is married to Victoria Beckham, a fashion icon and singer. Beckham said his time as captain of the English national team was one of his best achievements and he played many years at a high level, inspiring kids around the world to take up the sport as a global ambassador. The 38-year-old signed a short term deal with PSG and the club would like him to remain in a team role even with his retirement. He also will be an ambassador for the 2022 World Cup. He said that he will retire when his contract is up at the end of June.

"If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over one hundred times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy," said Beckham in a statement.

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