Retired football legend David Beckham was awarded the 2018 UEFA President's Award, the head of the European soccer organisation announced on Tuesday. Aleksander Ceferin praised the superstar England international, 43, who played as a midfielder at Manchester United and Real Madrid, among others, and netted 130 goals in 762 matches with his national team and clubs, reports Efe.

"Beckham is a true football icon of his generation," Ceferin said in a statement on UEFA's website. "I have chosen David Beckham as the recipient of this year's award because he has been a global ambassador for football, promoting the game and all its values in every corner of the planet," the president added.