Since THAT halfway line goal against Wimbledon in 1996 the former Manchester United and England midfielder has rarely been away from our screens or back pages.

We know he married Posh Spice, we know he copped a boot on the head from Sir Alex Ferguson and we know his other half refers to him as Golden Balls.

We know he has tattoos, we know each of his hairstyles and we all know he went from 1998 villain to hero with the national football team.

But do we know how much the Londoner does for those not as fortunate as him?

On Saturday afternoon, Beckham will lead out a Great Britain side at a packed Old Trafford.

The match, against a Rest of the World side made up of his old cronies from across the globe, will raise thousands for the children’s charity UNICEF.

It has been no small undertaking. At one point Beckham almost brought together warring duo Ferguson and Roy Keane. Had it not been for a calf injury, Rio Ferdinand was set to line up alongside Ashley Cole and John Terry.

But that is the least of it. The game at the Theatre of Dreams is the last of seven in each of the world’s continents.

Earlier this month Beckham, in his 10th year as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, was in a refugee camp in Dijbouti, meeting children and families displaced by conflict in nearby countries.

The Ali Addeh camp holds more than 10,000 refugees from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. It is fair to say that when Beckham arrived there was some excitement.

There was also publicity of the plight of those stationed there, which was kind of the point.

‘As a father it breaks my heart to see children living in such difficult circumstances,’ he said.

Words that would strike a chord with most, especially when they come from the former England captain.

Beckham is also a founding member of Malaria No More and a supporter of Help for Heroes.

In 2010 he flew to Afghanistan to meet British forces serving in Helmand.

As if this was not enough, the charity he runs with his wife, The Victoria and David Beckham Charitable Trust, has raised more than £1m in five years.

Their work has helped sick and disabled across the planet.

A recent poll of 1,000 found that more than half believed Beckham should not be knighted.

If they are right then we may as well give up.

Beckham won 115 England caps, and singlehandedly got us into the 2002 World Cup.

He captained the side of six years and have his all for the Three Lions.

He is an ambassador not just for UNICEF but for this country, having won friends wherever he has played.

The next time those at Buckingham Palace discuss who gets the sword on the shoulders, Beckham should be top of the list.

Arise, Sir David of Leytonstone.

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Source: Los Angeles Times