Sir David Beckham made history on Friday evening by becoming the first footballer to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The former England captain, 51, received the 2,849th star on the famous boulevard in a ceremony that coincided with the United States launching its 2026 World Cup campaign just 11 miles away at SoFi Stadium.
"I've always been a dreamer, but I could never have imagined that an honour like this would come to a working-class English soccer player like me," Sir David told the assembled crowd.
Lady Victoria Beckham and three of the couple's four children attended the ceremony to support their father.
Sir David Beckham's family supported him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
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Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and 14-year-old Harper were all present at the event, with Romeo accompanied by his girlfriend Kim Turnbull.
However, eldest son Brooklyn, 27, was conspicuously absent from the celebration despite now living in California, approximately 20 minutes from the ceremony location.
His absence was the latest in a long line of snubs from the hot sauce creator after he torched ties with his parents in a bombshell statement in January in which he expressed no desire to reconcile.
When asked beforehand whether his brother would attend, Romeo responded: "I hope so. We love him. We love him."
Sir David Beckham received a kiss from wife Victoria
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Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and 14-year-old Harper were all present at the event, with Romeo accompanied by his girlfriend Kim Turnball.
However, eldest son Brooklyn, 27, was conspicuously absent from the celebration despite now living in California, approximately 20 minutes from the ceremony location.
His absence was the latest in a long line of snubs from the hot sauce creator after he torched ties with his parents in a bombshell statement in January in which he expressed no desire to reconcile.
When asked beforehand whether his brother would attend, Romeo responded: "I hope so. We love him. We love him."
Sir David Beckham with his star
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Cruz had previously expressed similar sentiments when questioned about the family rift in March, saying simply: "I hope to" when asked about reconciliation.
Elsewhere, Tom Cruise delivered the induction speech, describing Sir David's journey as "a Hollywood story" defined by determination, hard work and worldwide cultural influence.
The Mission: Impossible star praised his friend's work on American soccer, noting that when Sir David arrived at LA Galaxy, Major League Soccer had just 13 teams compared to 30 today.
"People who had never watched football or soccer suddenly had a reason to," Mr Cruise told the audience.
Sir David Beckham with friend Tom Cruise at the event
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The pair have maintained a close friendship since Sir David signed with the Los Angeles club in 2007, and Sir David himself acknowledged the significance of the tribute, saying: "To stand here in front of my friend Tom Cruise, the greatest movie star of our time, is quite frankly mind-blowing."
In his own address, Sir David reflected on his humble beginnings in East London, describing the moment as "surreal" and something he never could have envisioned while growing up with dreams of playing football.
"I want to thank my incredible family, my parents and my sisters, who always supported my dreams," he said. "Victoria, my amazing wife for almost 30 years, without whom none of this would be possible or enjoyable."
The father of four grew visibly emotional when addressing his children directly.
Brooklyn Beckhma was not on hand to celebrate his father's achievement
| PA"I'm going to get emotional now. Kids, I hope you bring my grandchildren here one day and tell them about a boy who dreamed big," he said. "To make you all proud is my greatest achievement."
He also paid tribute to basketball legend Michael Jordan, crediting him as the inspiration behind wearing the number 23 jersey.
His wife and former Spice Girl also addressed the crowd, joking that she had assumed she was attending to receive her own star for her role in Spice World: The Movie before praising her husband's achievements.
The singer-turned-fashion designer noted that American football was entering "one of the most exciting chapters in its history," making the honour particularly timely.
Rather than the traditional red carpet, organisers laid a green football pitch-themed carpet for the occasion.
Celebrity friends, including Eva Longoria and her husband Jose Baston, as well as former footballer Robbie Keane and his wife Claudine, joined the festivities.
Sir David was recognised not only for his sporting achievements but also for his work with Studio 99, the production company he founded in 2019, which produced the acclaimed Netflix documentary series chronicling his life.
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