Beyond football

His retirement doesnt mark the departure of a true great,a la former teammates Zinedine Zidane or even Ronaldo. Yet,he won several titles,including the treble in 1998-99,and played for three of Europes biggest clubs,United,Real Madrid and AC Milan. His dead-ball brilliance sometimes changed the course of a game. But though Beckhams remarkably accurate crosses and violently curving free kicks will be missed,it says something that they were best immortalised in the movie Bend it like Beckham.

In his fame,Beckham transcended his game. He became an all-purpose celebrity,one of the first in sport. His popularity extended even to America,where football rather,soccer is little more than a boring European import. More,as the perfect canvas for global brands to project their wares on,Beckham challenged the conception of what it means to be a male sportstar. With his ever-changing haircuts,his flamboyant and fashionable sense of style and unapologetic embrace of his gay following,he embodied the metrosexual construct of his times. The traditional image of the hard-living,macho sporting hero was overtaken by Beckhams new style of masculinity.