David Beckham’s health struggles that give him ‘most grief’ as iconic career takes its toll

David Beckham is set to celebrate his 50th birthday later this year and, after 20 years playing at the top level, he admits his body is showing signs of “wear and tear”

David Beckham has opened up on the long-term impact of his injuries after two decades of playing football at the highest level.

The football legend turns 50 this year and he’s pinpointed one particular area that causes him “the most grief” on a daily basis. The former footballer, told Men’s Health: “It’s actually my back and left hip that give me the most grief. I’ve had it X-rayed, MRI’d – it’s just wear and tear.”

Beckham, who made 265 appearances for Manchester United and 115 for England, admitted that some of the treatments he underwent to keep him playing may have caused lasting damage, adding: “Unfortunately, I did have a lot of injections and I don’t think it’s a good thing.”

He also revealed that during his last game for Real Madrid, he had three cortisone injections in his ankle – and without them, he probably wouldn’t have been able to play at all. He said: “Certain parts of my body were a real mess.”

But for Beckham, his most shocking injury of all was a broken back, which he began to notice after a game with LA Galaxy. The 49-year-old said: “I went for a scan and they couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I was insisting there was something not right there – I could feel it.”

A second examination revealed a cracked vertebra, which the former United star recalled was a “bad one”. Another broken bone – a wrist fracture sustained in South Africa – still bothers him today.

The screw holding his broken bones together should, by now, have dissolved, but it’s still there, according to Beckham. However, the iconic athlete has claimed he is embracing the signs of ageing – and that a bit of wear and tear doesn’t worry him in the slightest.

He insisted: “It’s not something that I’m worried about. As long as I’m fit and healthy and my family are healthy, that’s all I care about.”

The current Inter Miami owner also revealed he and his fashion mogul wife Victoria, who’s listed as one of the UK Fashion industry’s 100 most powerful women, still exercise together after over 25 years of marriage – although their workout methods differ greatly.

According to David, Victoria – famed for her Spice Girls past and workaholic nature – rarely stops for a breather and is known to cut down on her rest periods during a gym session.

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