Football megastar David Beckham announced on Thursday that he is to retire after a glittering 20-year playing career in which he became one of the most widely recognised figures in world sport. The former England captain, 38, made the announcement shortly after winning the Ligue 1 title with French giants Paris Saint-Germain, which made him the first Englishman to win league championships in four different countries. He bows out from the game at the same time as his former Manchester United mentor Alex Ferguson, who handed Beckham his professional debut in 1992.

David Beckham is to retire from professional football at the end of the season, his representative announced on Thursday. The 38-year-old midfielder has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan, as well as winning 115 caps for England, and recently won the French Ligue 1 championship with Paris Saint-Germain. "I'm thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level," he said, in comments reported by the BBC.

Paris, Apr 16 (EFE).- English midfielder David Beckham, the biggest star ever signed by Paris Saint-Germain, plans to donate the salary from his time with the French club to Necker Children's Hospital in Paris, the press reported Tuesday. The teaching hospital specializes in treating rare diseases and infections, the Le Parisien newspaper said. The soccer star also plans to donate money to a second charity that has not yet been identified publicly.

David Beckham says he has not yet relinquished hope of resurrecting his England career, despite having not played for his country for almost three and a half years. The 37-year-old returned to European football with Paris Saint-Germain in January and hopes to feature in the Ligue 1 leaders' Champions League clash with Barcelona on Tuesday. Beckham's contract is due to expire at the end of the season but with PSG having expressed a desire to extend his deal, the former England captain says he still dreams of a return to the national set-up.