Football: David Beckham's England career in pictures

Beckham's England career began in September 2006, aged 21, in a World Cup qualifier against Moldova. He played the full 90 minutes as Glenn Hoddle's side beat their opponents 3-0 in what would prove a successful qualifying campaign Photograph: Tony Marshall/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos

His first international goal came at the 1998 World Cup finals against Columbia - a characteristic right-footed curler from a free-kick Photograph: Popperfoto

But Beckham's petulance in the quarter-final against Argentina proved ruinous as he was dismissed for kicking Diego Simeone. Beckham was castigated by the press and public who blamed him for England's subsequent exit from the competition Photograph: Popperfoto

Euro 2000 was little better. Having been abused by the fans after a 3-2 defeat to Portugal in which he created two goals, Beckham greeted his detractors with a one-fingered salute Photograph: Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sports Photo Agency

Following Kevin Keegan's resignation as manager, Beckham was handed the captain's armband by caretaker boss Peter Taylor for an international friendly with Italy in Turin. England lost 1-0 Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

By captaining the team to an historic 5-1 win over Germany in 2001, Beckham's exoneration was almost complete Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Beckham became a hero in 2001 when his 93rd minute free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford handed England a place at the World Cup Photograph: Tom Jenkins

That remarkable strike would, ultimately, be seen as one of the highlights of his international career Photograph: PA/EMPICS

Against Argentina in the 2002 World Cup, Beckham gained some revenge for the Simeone furore, beating the goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero with a low, drilled penalty. England's campaign would, however, falter at the quarter-finals Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Beckham was on hand to console David Seaman after his misjudgement allowed Ronaldinho's lob-cum-cross to find the net Photograph: Tom Jenkins

At Euro 2004, Beckham missed two penalties - first against France and then, more crucially, against Portugal. Replays showed the earth moved beneath Beckham's standing foot as he skewed his shot over the Portuguese bar Photograph: Jose Manuel Ribeiro/Reuters

A familiar sight in the summer of 2006 - Beckham wearing a pained expression in an England shirt. Once again, Portugal were the victors in a penalty shoot-out as England were knocked out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage Photograph: Dan Chung

With tears in his eyes, Beckham resigned as captain and was subsequently axed from the squad as Steve McLaren's reign began Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Back in the team by June 2007, Beckham was among those to play in the first international at the new Wembley stadium Photograph: Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters

McLaren's catastrophic tenure ended against Croatia; Beckham was among the culprits on the field that day Photograph: Tom Jenkins

He earned his 100th cap against France in 2008, joining Billy Wright, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Peter Shilton as the only men to have reached the milestone Photograph: Pool/Getty Images

Beckham's hopes of playing at the 2010 World Cup were dashed when, during a loan spell at Milan, he crumpled to the floor with a torn Achilles tendon. Even surgery in Finland couldn't repair the damage in time Photograph: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters

Nonetheless, Beckham went to South Africa in a capacity loosely defined by the term 'player liaison'. In reality, Becks was merely a bystander as England's campaign fell apart Photograph: Tom Jenkins

It took just 17 words for Fabio Capello to suggest that Beckham's England career was over - words he clumsily delivered in a TV interview before their match with Hungary ... Beckham was expected to earn one more cap, his 116th, against France in November as a final farewell, though this never happened, making the match against Belarus in 2009 his last cap Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images