“Getting my family’s support was the initial conversation I had with my wife, kids, and parents because they’d all be involved in some way. I didn’t want cameras trailing me around, which makes me quite uncomfortable. Instead, it was just me in a room with Fisher [Stevens, the docu-series director], talking, for about 45 hours over the last two years. It felt like a therapy session, pouring my heart out. Trusting Fisher’s editing process ultimately resulted in a genuine and heartfelt narrative that truly reflects my life. There was a moment when I first watched it and thought, ‘This isn’t what I expected.’ But after watching it again with my wife ten hours later, I realised it was exactly how I wanted it to be.”

What changed in those ten hours? Beckham considers. “Well, the first time I watched it, I was alone. Watching it with my wife, who I’ve been with for 26 years, made me trust her opinion. Reflecting, I wonder what might surprise people. Many might assume they know everything about me and my life, that there’s nothing new to discover.

But I believe when they hear me talk about specific moments, like the 1998 sending-off and what was going on in my head, or the challenges I faced when leaving Manchester United, it’ll shed light on experiences they haven’t heard before. Sure, some things like my OCD tendencies have been widely reported, and people know that about me. But there are many untold parts they know nothing about.”

Does he mean he’s laying bare his innermost thoughts about pivotal moments, which pundits and newspaper headlines were sometimes wildly inaccurate about? Beckham leans in. “Exactly. Plus, we hear from many people who were part of those moments. [Former Manchester United manager] Alex Ferguson, my wife... It’s important to share the story. As you grow older, your perspective on life changes. You start to understand why you did certain things when you were 21. I feel like a completely different person now.”

Only someone with hindsight honed by decades in the public eye could have the forward-facing perspective to pull off one of the most daring talent acquisitions in recent sports history: signing Lionel Messi to his Inter Miami FC team. How did Beckham bond with Messi, as former rivals with shared philosophies?

“When I retired a decade ago, I was itching to dive into something new. I wasn’t the type to just lounge on a beach and call it retirement—I love staying busy. So, when I hung up my boots, I hopped on a plane [to America], and [in 2013] announced my vision for Inter Miami. Like every sports owner, I wanted the best players, the top-notch sportsmanship, for our team, and our fans. There was only one man in my mind, and that was Messi.

It wasn’t just because of his on-field prowess, but also because I knew what kind of person he was off the field—a humble, family-oriented guy who’s deeply committed to his community. It’s not just about football; it’s about teamwork.”

“Bringing him to our team in America, outside of Europe’s established leagues, was no easy feat—but I love a challenge. I told my partners from the get-go, ‘This is the player we’re going to get.’ About five years ago, my partner Jorge Mas and I snuck into a hotel in Barcelona to meet Leo’s [Messi’s] dad. We told him that we knew his son wasn’t ready then, but our dream was to bring him to our club someday. So, we began the process.

Over the past four or five years, Jorge has travelled to Argentina, met with the family, and talked to Leo. As the time neared when he was due to move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, and his contract was coming to an end, we knew our chance was approaching. But securing Leo’s signature, with other options on the table like the Saudi League and Barcelona, was no walk in the park.

Things just fell into place at the right time, and that’s when we seized our opportunity. The deal we crafted involved multiple contracts and a share of the club. After that, it was Leo’s call on where he wanted to go next. We didn’t pressure him; we wanted him to make his own choice for his happiness, along with his wife, Antonella. As the time drew nearer, we simply told him, ‘It’s your turn to make the announcement. We’ll be here waiting.’”

When he finally learnt of Messi’s decision in June, Beckham was in Japan with his family. “My phone started going berserk at 5am. My wife was swatting me, telling me to go back to bed. I grabbed the phone and realised it was huge news. I jumped up, screamed, and got emotional because we had put so much work into this,” he says. “I always knew bringing Leo on board would be a game-changer for our plans, the league, and American sport in general.”

With a career built on both supreme athletic accomplishment and savvy decision-making, Beckham’s trajectory might seem pretty close to perfect itself. Yet there’s more to the man than his record alone can show. With insight comes growth, and when we ask Beckham what he wants his legacy to be, his answer is something of a surprise.

“You won’t hear this from everyone, but I just want to be remembered as a nice person. Humble, generous, hardworking—that’s the gist of it. When folks ask what I want my career legacy to be, it’s not about being the greatest—it’s about that good old work ethic. Never giving up, embracing challenges, and pushing through tough times—that’s how I roll. I got that strong work ethic from my folks.

“We’ve been fortunate too with our kids,” he continues. “They all had a passion for work from a young age. Take Brooklyn, who’s now 24. When he was just 11, we had
him working at a little French café in Knightsbridge [in London] on weekend mornings. He had to be up at the crack of dawn, starting work at 7am and putting in hours until the afternoon. It might seem small, but it taught him responsibility and the value of earning a bit of cash.

Our kids are privileged compared to my working-class upbringing in the East End of London. My parents, a gas fitter and a hairdresser, worked tirelessly. Dad was still going strong at 74, and Mum still snips away a bit. When it comes down to it, I’d like folks to remember me as a hardworking soul, like my parents.”

And as we wrap up the interview, I ask him what he’s doing next. “Where am I off to now? To pick my daughter up! When I’m in town, I always take her to school and pick her up when she’s done.” And just like that, he transitions into the role he cherishes the most: dad.

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