Sir David Beckham has had surgery to remove a screw from his wrist that had been lodged in his forearm for more than two decades.
The metal pin, inserted following a wrist fracture during an England match in 2003, had failed to dissolve as intended.
Victoria Beckham showed her support for her husband by posting "get well soon daddy" on Instagram this morning.
The 51-year-old fashion designer shared photographs of the former England captain, 50, wearing a blue sling and sporting a wristband reading "get well soon".
Sir David Beckham has had surgery to remove a screw from his wrist that had been lodged in his forearm for more than two decades
INSTAGRAM/GETTY
A source told The Sun: "David had been in pain for years but thought nothing of it. He just kept going until, in recent months, it became quite unbearable."
The operation was successful, with Victoria by his bedside throughout.
The injury occurred during a friendly match against South Africa at Durban's Kings Park Stadium in May 2003.
Sir David Beckham pictured clutching his arm while playing for England in 2003
GETTY
Beckham fell awkwardly following a challenge with South African player Thabang Molefe, breaking his wrist in the process.
Despite the injury, the midfielder continued playing with his arm heavily strapped. He even managed to provide an assist for Gareth Southgate before being substituted by Jermaine Jenas just four minutes into the second half.
The England star was visibly struggling with the knock during the match. Medical staff took him to hospital immediately after the final whistle, where doctors inserted the screw to repair the fracture.
READ MORE:Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll set for major relationship challenge that affects daughter Poppy
The tackle that caused the break was particularly forceful, with footage showing Beckham being slammed to the ground during the challenge.
Recent medical scans revealed the true extent of the problem when an X-ray showed the screw had become embedded in Beckham's forearm.
The pin, which should have dissolved naturally over time, had instead remained intact for 22 years.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
"A routine scan showed that the pin which was meant to have dissolved, hadn't - so he was booked into finally resolve the issue all these years later," the source added.
The football legend has previously spoken about the physical toll his career has taken on his body.
In a recent interview, Beckham acknowledged the lasting impact of his playing days, describing years of "wear and tear" from his time on the pitch.
Sir David Beckham received a wristband of support from his family after going to hospital
He revealed that his final match for Real Madrid required extreme measures just to get through the game.
The wrist surgery represents just one of many injuries sustained during Beckham's illustrious career, which saw him represent Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
Most Read
