Beckham announces retirement

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder David Beckham has announced that he will retire from soccer at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old only moved to the French capital on a short-term contract in January but the Parisiens were hoping for the former England captain to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes for another season.

However, even though Beckham played his part in PSG ending its 18-year wait for a Ligue title, the midfielder has now decided to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career this summer.

Beckham has established himself as one of the most recognizable faces in sport during a remarkable career that has spanned two decades.

He made his name at Manchester United, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League with the Red Devils before joining Real Madrid in 2003.

Beckham lifted La Liga in his final season at the Santiago Bernabeu before shocking the soccer world by moving to LA Galaxy, with whom he won two MLS Cups. Perhaps more significantly, though, he played a massive role in boosting soccer’s popularity in the United States.

After two loan spells with AC Milan during his time in America, he eventually returned to Europe earlier this year with PSG, picking another domestic championship to become the first Englishman to win titles in four different countries.

In his homeland, though, he will probably best be remembered for his captaincy of the national team, and the trademark free kick against Greece which secured his country's qualification for the 2002 World Cup.