FRISCO, Texas (The Thursday Times) — David Beckham has been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the United States, the Hall said, honouring the former England captain whose move to LA Galaxy in 2007 changed the economics of the American game.
Beckham, 51, was chosen on the Hall’s Veterans’ Ballot and will be inducted with the class of 2027 at a ceremony in Texas on April 16, 2027.
He learned of the honour from Major League Soccer’s commissioner, Don Garber, during a league board meeting. “It is my honour to welcome you to the National Soccer Hall of Fame,” Garber told him. “This has been an incredible journey,” Beckham replied.
The ‘Beckham Rule’
His arrival at the Galaxy brought in the designated player rule, widely known as the “Beckham Rule”, which let clubs sign players whose wages exceeded their salary-budget charge and opened the door for other international stars. He won consecutive MLS Cup titles with the Galaxy in 2011 and 2012, setting up Landon Donovan’s winner in the first final.
After retiring in 2013, he returned to the league as a founding co-owner of Inter Miami in 2018 and in 2023 helped bring Lionel Messi to the club. The Galaxy unveiled a statue of him in 2019, and he was knighted in November 2025.
Before America, Beckham won six Premier League titles with Manchester United, a Spanish league title with Real Madrid, and a French title with Paris Saint-Germain, and earned 115 England caps.
The class of 2027 also includes the former US women’s stars Megan Rapinoe, elected in her first year of eligibility, and Julie Ertz; the former US men’s striker Jozy Altidore, whose 42 international goals are the third most in the men’s team’s history; the Brazilian indoor football specialist Tatu; and the former US men’s coach Lothar Osiander.
