David Beckham Insists Turning 50 in May ‘Doesn’t Bother Him One Bit’

• The soccer legend told Men’s Health that turning 50 doesn’t “bother me one bit”
• Even though he sustained painful injuries during his career, Beckham says his body is “feeling better than it has done for a long time”
• Now that he’s retired, Beckham loves getting “competitive” on the slopes with his sons

As his 50th birthday approaches, David Beckham’s focus is on his family and staying healthy. 

“Doesn’t bother me one bit,” the soccer legend told Men’s Health in an exclusive interview about his May 2 birthday. (The feature also includes a photo and video shoot in which Beckham works out, highlighting his current exercise routine.) 

“People are asking me about it gently, like it should be a big issue,” he said. “It’s not something that I’m worried about, as long as I’m fit and healthy and my family are healthy, that’s all I care about.”

Reaching the milestone may not impact the six-time Premier League title winner, but his body has a slightly different story to tell. 

Beckham made his professional soccer debut in the early 1990s, when the long-term impact of diet and treatments weren’t considered. The star told Men’s Health that he used to get numerous cortisone injections. 

“I think that’s probably why certain parts of my body were a real mess,” he told Men’s Health.  

Beckham suffered broken bones, including a broken back and a broken wrist that still pains him sometimes, according to the outlet. 

Despite the twinges, including in his back and left hip from “wear and tear,” Beckham is feeling good. 

“Do you know what, my body’s actually feeling better than it has done for a long time,” the former midfielder told Men’s Health. “People ask where I feel it the most – is it my knees or my ankles? My achilles was a bad injury towards the end of my playing career but it never troubles me now, despite rupturing it.”

The physical costs were worth it for Beckham, who retired 12 years ago after an illustrious career. He’s the only English soccer player to score in three separate World Cups, according to the National Football Museum. Beyond winning World Cups, he’s also won two FA Cups and gained a global following for his goal-scoring kick. 

These days, the father of four is more health conscious and his workout routines often include his wife, Victoria Beckham. Last fall, the 50-year-old former Spice Girl snapped a shirtless shot of her husband to highlight their morning workout routine.

David posted his wife’s candid picture to Instagram on Nov. 25, writing, “Good morning workout 🏋️ with my wife & her 📷 @victoriabeckham 🩷.”

The soccer star is also a fan of cooking, and harvesting ingredients from his home in the Cotswolds in England. (On Instagram, David has proudly showed off his chickens and beehives.) 

“When we harvest the honey and I’m sat there in my kitchen looking at it all, I get quite emotional,” Beckham, who just launched a nutrition brand, IM8, told Men’s Health. “I turn to my kids looking for respect and they’re like, ‘Yeah, whatever, Dad.’ It’s so satisfying for me, though.” 

Now that David doesn’t have to worry about injury like he did as a franchise player, he’s taken up surfing, skiing and snowboarding, according to the outlet. He loves using sports to connect with their kids, sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, and daughter Harper. 

David told Men’s Health that it took him three or four “painful days” to learn how to ski and snowboard, but it’s become a fun family activity. 

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“Me and my boys, we’re the first up and the last off the slope. It’s the best part, having those chats on the lifts,” David told the magazine. “You get into them. The kids can’t go on their phones, they’re just sat there and we’re all chatting – it’s amazing.” 

He also doesn’t mind getting “competitive” with his sons. 

“I try to get competitive with the boys, but when you start getting older you notice they’re getting quicker and more agile,” David continued, according to Men’s Health. “When they got to 18 years old, I really noticed they were flying down the mountain. I tried to keep up with them, but they’re quite good with letting me keep up.”