David Beckham set to be Elle's first solo male cover star First man of football, fashion and general fabulousness, David Beckham, will cover Elle UK's July 2012 Olympic issue. As the Olympic countdown clock ticks ever nearer to zero, the race is on for fashion magazines and brands to bag a big name 'face'. And it's so not about signing just any old athlete, the winner of this elaborate game of one-upmanship will ultimately be whoever gets the best looking star (come on, this is fashion). In Pictures: David Beckham's style evolution This being the case, it looks like game over for the opposition as Elle UK have today announced that their July 2012 cover star will be old Goldenballs himself, Mr. David Beckham - Olympic ambassador, football team hopeful, underpants design maverick and all round god. Although Elle have featured men on the cover before, they've only ever been in a supporting role with a girl draped on their arm (see Ewan McGregor and Renee Zelwegger or Liam Gallagher with that girl from All Saints), but as we know, David is the next best thing to royalty so it was not deemed necessary to zip Victoria Pendleton's pert posterior into a glitzy cocktail dress to 'fluff up' the frame. "David Beckham is a national hero, so we saw an opportunity to shoot a celebratory cover to support an historical and patriotic year," Elle editor Lorraine Candy said. He is loved by men and women alike. Anyway, who doesn't want to see a picture of one of the world's most handsome men on the front cover of a magazine? In characteristically understated style, David has described the opportunity as "really exciting." The cover shoot will be live-tweeted from LA from 8pm tonight, so if you have any burning questions for Becks, start limbering up those thumbs.